In the first half of 2024, Fiji has reported 324 cases of child sexual abuse. Sashi Kiran, the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, revealed these alarming statistics in Parliament on Friday, noting an average of 54 cases per month, with rape being the most common offense against children.
Kiran expressed her concern, stating that any child experiencing such trauma is unacceptable and stressed that these figures should prompt reflection and action on a national level. She called for a serious evaluation of the measures in place to combat this issue.
The Minister shared data from the Fiji Police Force spanning from 2021 to 2024, highlighting a troubling trend. In 2021, there were 729 reported cases, which rose to 1,034 in 2022 but then decreased to 844 in 2023. Notably, reports indicate that the average age of the youngest victims in the past six years is two years old, with the youngest being just six months. The average age of the youngest suspects is around 12 years old.
Kiran indicated that out of reported rapes, three out of five involved children, and there were 23 births per 1,000 females under the age of 18. Looking at the data from January to June 2024, the age group of 13-17 years had the highest number of reported cases, totaling 215, followed by 94 cases among those aged 6-12, and 15 cases involving infants aged 0-5.
Among the specific offenses reported, there were 104 cases of rape, 71 cases of indecent assault, and 60 cases of sexual assault. Female victims accounted for a significant majority, with 297 cases (91.7%), while male victims comprised 27 cases (8.3%).