In 2023, Fiji reported over 3,600 cases of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as revealed by Minister for Communications and Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica during a parliamentary session. These reports were made to the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Kamikamica explained that the Cyber Tipline at NCMEC functions as a central hub for leads on crimes related to child sexual exploitation. Electronic service providers registered in the U.S. are legally required to report any suspected CSAM, grooming, or explicit content being transmitted to children on their platforms. The subsequent reports are forwarded to law enforcement for further investigation.
He stated that in the current year, NCMEC alone received 3,638 reports originating from Fiji. The establishment of a National Taskforce to Address Pornography is seen as a crucial step by the Coalition Government to safeguard communities and protect vulnerable individuals.
The Taskforce’s primary focus will address what is now referred to as online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), rather than just traditional child pornography. Kamikamica urged parents, guardians, and the community to be cautious regarding the images and videos of children shared online. He emphasized the importance of not posting pictures or videos where children are inadequately clothed, warning that such materials can be misused by offenders in harmful ways.
He called for collective efforts to protect children in both real and digital environments.