Teen girl in South Sudan auctioned off for marriage on Facebook

[NelsonG]

A 16-year-old South Sudanese girl was sold for marriage via Facebook in a disturbing case that's been described as "reminiscent of latter-day slave markets."

The winning bid in the auction was for 500 cows, three cars and $10,000, and the girl was married off at a ceremony on Nov. 3 in the country’s Eastern Lakes State, according to Plan International, a humanitarian organisation focused on children's rights.

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"This barbaric use of technology is reminiscent of latter-day slave markets. That a girl could be sold for marriage on the world’s biggest social networking site in this day and age is beyond belief,"  country director of Plan International South Sudan, George Otim, said in a statement.  Read more...

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