Yei Civil Society Concerned Over Pregnancies Among Women With Mental Disabilities

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – A civil society leader in Yei River County has expressed concern over a growing number of pregnancies involving young women with mental disabilities, calling for urgent action to protect vulnerable members of the community.

Modi Arkangelo, Programme Lead for the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice (CIGPJ) in Yei, said at least five young women living with mental disorders have reportedly become pregnant since the beginning of this year.

According to Arkangelo, the increasing number of such cases highlights the need for stronger protection measures and greater community awareness to safeguard women and girls with mental disabilities from abuse and exploitation.

He appealed to government authorities, humanitarian agencies and protection organisations to enforce laws and policies aimed at protecting persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls who are vulnerable to gender-based violence.

“As civil society and organisations concerned with human rights, we believe families and parents need to provide protection and security for these women. County authorities, NGOs and community leaders must also act because this issue is becoming a serious concern,” Arkangelo said.

He emphasised that families and caregivers have a critical responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of women living with mental disabilities.

Arkangelo said civil society organisations are taking an advocacy and protection role to promote the rights of people with mental impairments and to raise awareness about the challenges they face.

He further called on law enforcement agencies and the government to investigate the reported cases, identify those responsible and ensure they are held accountable under the law.

Rights advocates have repeatedly warned that women and girls with disabilities face heightened risks of abuse, discrimination and neglect, often due to limited protection mechanisms and social stigma.

Community leaders in Yei are now urging a coordinated response involving government institutions, civil society organisations, families and development partners to strengthen protection measures and uphold the rights and dignity of persons living with disabilities.