Methodology

This report is based on research conducted between March and October 2012 in Western Equatoria State, Central Equatoria State, and Jonglei State. Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed 87 girls and women. Some girls and women were unsure about their age, but most girls and women we interviewed were with girls and women who were married as children, under the age of 18.

Other interviews were conducted with government officials in the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health. We also spoke to the Chief Justice and officials from the South Sudan Human Rights Commission; representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working on women’s rights, United Nations and international donor organizations; women’s rights experts and activists, a doctor, a nurse, teachers, traditional leaders and elders including chiefs; and three prison officials.

Individual women interviewees were identified with the assistance of local NGOs providing services to women and most interviews occurred in their private offices. Where women were interviewed in villages, the interviews were conducted in their homes with as much privacy as possible. All participants were informed of the purpose of the interview, its voluntary nature, and the ways the information would be used. Each orally consented to be interviewed. Women were told they could decline to answer questions or end the interview at any time, particularly where they were recounting traumatic personal experiences. Interviews lasted between thirty minutes and one hour. Some interviews were conducted in English but most interviews were conducted in various local languages with the assistance of a female interpreter.

Care was taken to minimize the risk to women who were recounting difficult experiences that could further traumatize them. Interviewees did not receive any material compensation, but were reimbursed the cost of public transport to and from the interview.

Pseudonyms have been used to protect the privacy and security of the women and girls interviewed for the report. In some cases other identifying information about interviewees has also been withheld upon request.

Human Rights Watch also conducted a review of relevant laws, policies, surveys, and reports from the government of South Sudan, the United Nations, academics, NGOs, and other sources. We have conducted an extensive review of literature on child marriage in South Sudan and other countries where there are similar negative consequences on the lives of girls and women.