In the first half of 2024, Fiji reported 324 cases of child sexual abuse, a concerning statistic highlighted by Assistant Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, during a parliamentary session on Friday. This translates to an alarming monthly average of 54 cases, with rape identified as the most common offense against children.
Kiran emphasized that any instance of child abuse is a tragedy, underscoring the need for national reflection on these figures, which should evoke a sense of shame. She pointed out that this issue undermines family structures and raises critical questions about the steps being taken to combat it.
The data presented by Ms. Kiran was sourced from Fiji Police Force reports covering the period from 2021 to June 2024. In 2021, there were 729 reported cases, which increased to 1,034 in 2022 before declining to 844 cases in 2023.
Furthermore, a United Nations expert, Mama Fatima Singhateh, recently warned of the pressing need to prioritize children’s rights in the development and regulation of the internet and digital technologies. Singhateh cited numerous studies indicating a rise in online child sexual abuse and exploitation, highlighting risks such as grooming, online sexual harassment, and the proliferation of harmful material.
On a local level, Kiran shared that data from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions revealed the average age of child victims of sexual abuse over the past six years was just two years old, with the youngest victim being only six months old. Alarmingly, the average age of the perpetrators was reported to be 12 years.
Notably, three out of five reported rapes involved children, and statistics showed that 23 births per 1,000 females were to individuals under 18 years of age.
Kiran called for urgent action to address this critical problem, emphasizing that merely acknowledging the issue was insufficient. The nation must confront these uncomfortable truths and take proactive measures to safeguard children in Fiji.