In the first half of 2024, there have been 324 recorded instances of child sexual abuse in Fiji. Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, shared this information during a parliamentary session on Friday, noting that this corresponds to an average of 54 cases per month, with rape being the most frequently reported offense against children.
Ms. Kiran emphasized that the trauma inflicted on any child due to abuse is unacceptable, highlighting the need for national reflection and action. She presented data from the Fiji Police Force covering the years 2021 through mid-2024, showing a fluctuating trend in reported cases: 729 cases in 2021, a rise to 1,034 in 2022, and a decrease to 844 in 2023.
Further analysis revealed that in the past six years, the youngest victims of child sexual abuse have averaged two years old, with the youngest recorded victim being just six months old. The average age of the youngest offenders is reported to be 12 years. Ms. Kiran stated that three out of five reported rapes involve children, and there are 23 births per 1,000 females under the age of 18.
For the year 2024, among the 324 reported cases, the 13-17 age group had the highest number, with 215 cases, followed by 94 cases in the 6-12 age group, and 15 in the infant category of 0-5 years. Rape constituted the majority of offenses, with 104 cases reported, followed by 71 cases of indecent assault and 60 cases of sexual assault. Notably, females comprised the majority of victims, representing 297 cases (91.7%), while males accounted for 27 cases (8.3%).