Facebook Under Fire For Allowing Man In South Sudan To Make Post Auctioning Teen Daughter As Child Bride
Facebook is coming under fire for allowing a man in South Sudan to make a post auctioning off his 17-year-old daughter to the highest bidder as a child bride.
As the Guardian reported, the post from the war-torn African nation gained viral attention and was allowed to remain up for several days as a group of men bid on the life of the teen. The report noted that at least five men participated, including the region’s deputy general.
A man who already had eight other wives eventually submitted the winning bid, paying the father a total package of 500 cows, two luxury cars, two bikes, a boat, mobile phones, and $10,000 in cash.
Philips Anyang Ngong, a human rights lawyer who tried to stop the girl’s sale, said the viral Facebook post was “the biggest test of child abuse, trafficking and auctioning of a human being.” He called for all of those involved, including Facebook, to be held responsible.
