The number of children experiencing sexual abuse from those they love and trust is on the rise, revealing a troubling trend in familial settings. This situation is highlighted in the latest monthly statistics released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Assistant Minister for Women Sashi Kiran has expressed her condemnation regarding the alarming rates of child abuse in the nation, emphasizing that these figures should prompt shame and reflection for Fiji as a whole.
In August alone, over 70 charges related to sexual offenses were filed against 26 individuals, according to the ODPP. Their monthly serious sexual offences update indicated that among the accused was one juvenile and 24 victims, with 15 being minors. The victims included two males and 22 females.
The majority of the cases involved relatives abusing minors within their families. Instances included a 76-year-old man charged with the rape of his eight-year-old granddaughter and a 56-year-old man facing three counts of raping his 16-year-old granddaughter.
Additionally, a 72-year-old man was charged with two counts of raping his 17-year-old stepdaughter, although this case was later discontinued following the death of the accused. Other charges included a 40-year-old man facing nine counts of rape of his eight-year-old daughter, and a 35-year-old man charged with one count of rape and five counts of sexual assault against his 14-year-old stepdaughter.
Furthermore, a 56-year-old man was charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault of his 13-year-old niece, while a 21-year-old man was charged with raping his 25-year-old niece. Another case involved a 40-year-old man who faced multiple charges of rape and sexual assault against his 17-year-old niece.
The ODPP noted that eight cases were dismissed after nolle prosequi were filed due to a lack of sufficient and consistent evidence.