Yei River County has passed a by-law that protects children from abuse.

The bylaw provides for imprisonment of parents or guardians who subject children to heavy work.

The worst forms of child labor in South Sudan include dangerous activities in agriculture, according to the United Nations Department of Labor.

The assistant commissioner at the department of gender, Victoria Nasirah, told Eye Radio that the provisions were passed by the county council.

“This law stipulates that any person who has given a child clothes or soaps to sell, we shall arrest the child with all the items and the child will direct us up to the person who gave him the items and we shall apprehend this person and be charged,” said Ms Nasirah.

The bylaw is also aimed at encouraging parents and guardians to ensure that children go to school.

“If you are the grandmother, mother, father and brother sending a child to sell, you will be charged because we need our children to go to school and grow up responsibly.”

A monthly report by the county’s gender department says that child abuse is on the rise in Yei.