Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Social networking sites like Facebook have a huge role to play in protecting human rights
On 3 November, a 17-year old girl from South Sudan's Eastern Lakes State got married. Normally, there'd be nothing unusual about that in a country in which a horrifying 52 per cent of girls are married before their 18th birthday.
But this time, the man who married the girl "won" her after participating in an auction on Facebook.
Kok Alat, a business tycoon thought to be three times her age, beat four other men - including, reportedly, three high-ranking government officials - by bidding cars (three), cows (500) and cash ($10,000) to make the girl his tenth wife. A Facebook post dated October 25 shows a tall, solemn-looking girl standing next to an older man who is grinning victoriously.
On the face of it, this transaction is simply yet another example of a practice which takes place hundreds of times across South Sudan every year. While child marriage is technically illegal in the country, in reality local customs and traditions usually take precedence and it's common for girls to be exchanged for a "bride price" - which usually takes the form of cattle.
So is using Facebook to do the same thing really any worse?
Almost certainly. As Plan International's South Sudan Country Director George Otim put it, this barbaric use of technology is "reminiscent of latter-day slave markets." Publicising to millions what would otherwise have been an extremely harmful but nevertheless low-key community event made this all the more horrifying.
Putting it on Facebook brought more attention to the substantial riches to be gained from trading adolescent girls in this way. And it's entirely possible they were so significant this time because the sale went viral. As a result there is a very real risk that more families will put their daughters up for marriage, online or off, attracted by the gains on offer in a desperately poor country which has been blighted by a hunger crisis since 2013.
The government of South Sudan needs to show it is serious about ending child marriage, a deeply damaging practice. It should recommit to the five-year strategic action plan it launched in June, promising to end child marriage by 2030, and it should hold to account those government officials who appear to have participated in this auction.
But it is also clear that social networking sites like Facebook have a huge role to play in protecting human rights. Facebook allowed the offending post to remain on its site for a full 15 days. It removed the post, "as soon as it became aware." By that time the girl was already married. Attempts to reach her by Plan International's team in South Sudan have been blocked by her family.
Facebook cannot be blamed entirely for the orchestration of this "marriage". It's likely it would have gone ahead without the social media auction. But the company should recognise the damage done by their tardy reaction to this gravest of girls' rights violations. Voice of America, which broke the story globally, had their story out for three days before Facebook took action.
It is too late to save this girl from marriage, but action can be taken to stop millions of others being forced into a life-long relationship against their will and their best interests. Facebook has a role to play. This case - like the many others which have worried human rights activists - show that social media platforms need stronger reporting mechanisms and a more efficient process for responding to reports of violence or abuse. According to Facebook, they have 7,500 moderators to enforce their community standards, which include a ban of any form of human trafficking. Given there are 2.2 billion users, clearly they need more. It might also help if there were more local moderators based in countries like South Sudan, and more women - and if all received training in preventing gender-based violence.
Because this case is an example of violence. Against a girl who will likely spend the rest of her life with a man she didn't choose. This is first such case we've ever come across on social media. But will it be the last?
Susannah Birkwood is a global press officer for Africa at Plan International.
Newer articles:
- South Sudan seeks to widen financial inclusion using mobile money platform - 30/11/2018 05:45
- The legacy of tuberculosis follows South Sudanese refugees into exile - 30/11/2018 04:21
- South Sudan Displacement Crisis: Renk Port and Road Monitoring - Renk County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan (October 2018) - 30/11/2018 02:35
- Tense 1st Meeting of South Sudan Armed Leaders Since Peace - 30/11/2018 01:05
- With WHO support, South Sudan enhances meningitis preparedness and response - 29/11/2018 23:42
Older news items
- South Sudan declares yellow fever outbreak near DRC border - 29/11/2018 13:17
- Influential Opportunities for South Sudan Diplomacy - 29/11/2018 13:16
- South Sudan denies allegations over breach of EU arms embargo - 29/11/2018 07:31
- Trade thriving at border town between Sudan and its conflict-affected neighbour as security improves - 29/11/2018 04:14
- Uganda's double game in South Sudan civil war revealed - 29/11/2018 03:20
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- Why President Kiir Should Respect Right of Access To Information Law - 13/09/2020 20:18
- Army defections as South Sudan violence spreads - 18/12/2013 09:37
- Japan Announces $1.5 Million to Bolster South Sudan Peace - 17/03/2014 18:49
- South Sudan Urges Sudan to Stop Attacks By Armed Groups - 20/04/2014 19:48
- Khartoum and NCP Are Not Enemies In The CPA Era - 20/09/2009 14:40
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61759 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22308 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21496 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19063 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18818 times