Reverend Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, has called on parents to take their responsibilities seriously as concerns over child neglect continue to rise.
A recent report from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection indicates that 76 percent of children who have experienced abuse and neglect in Fiji come from Christian households. It also highlights that 75 percent of these affected children are iTaukei. Reverend Turagavou expressed that this situation reflects poorly on the community, particularly regarding the involvement of Christian families.
“We recognize that there is a problem, and we will not shy away from it,” he stated. He emphasized that the church acknowledges its role in addressing social issues that persist in families, despite numerous awareness campaigns.
To tackle these challenges, the church is considering scaling back certain programs organized by church circuits. Reverend Turagavou pointed out that some church activities consume significant time, which has raised concerns among members about the impact on family life.
“We aim to reinforce the family unit, as this is where our efforts should begin. Otherwise, the negative consequences will ultimately affect the children,” he noted. He also stressed the importance of working closely with the congregation to strengthen family ties that can help mitigate these issues.