In the first half of 2024, Fiji has reported 324 cases of child sexual abuse, according to Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran. Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Kiran noted that the average monthly rate of these incidents stands at 54, with rape being the most common crime against children.
Kiran emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Any child that has to endure the trauma of abuse is one too many.” She called for reflection and accountability as a nation regarding these alarming figures.
Data compiled from Fiji Police Force reports spanning 2021 to mid-2024 shows a disturbing trend: 729 cases of child sexual abuse were recorded in 2021, which rose sharply to 1,034 in 2022 before dropping to 844 in 2023. Statistics from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions revealed that the average age of the youngest victims over the past six years is just two years old, with the youngest victim being only six months. The average age of the youngest perpetrators is 12 years old.
Kiran pointed out that three out of five rape cases involved children, highlighting that 23 births per 1,000 females were to those under the age of 18. A breakdown of the current year’s figures reveals that the age group of 13-17 years has the highest reported cases at 215, followed by 94 cases among those aged 6-12, and 15 in the 0-5 age group. Rape remains the predominant charge with 104 cases, accompanied by 71 cases of indecent assault and 60 cases of sexual assault.
The report also indicated that females represent the majority of victims, accounting for 297 cases (91.7%), while males constituted 27 cases (8.3%).