Fiji Mulls Pornography Ban as Teen Pregnancy Rates Rise

In Fiji, Assistant Minister for Health, Penioni Ravunawa, has called for a complete ban on pornography, citing its link to the increasing rate of teenage pregnancies in the country. This concern has been echoed by Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya, who previously identified pornography as a significant social issue akin to substance abuse. In response to the alarming rise in teenage pregnancies, with 490 cases recorded in just the first half of 2025, Ravunawa highlighted that Suva’s Colonial War Memorial Hospital recorded the most cases, followed by Lautoka and Labasa hospitals.

Assistant Minister Ravunawa attributes the surge in teenage pregnancies to young people’s exposure to explicit content, suggesting that how the youth “feed their brains” is crucial. He advocates for increased awareness and educational programs about safe sex practices at the community level. Additionally, he stressed the importance of media engagement and a vigilant educational system to tackle these challenges effectively.

The issue of teenage pregnancies closely ties with broader concerns about the accessibility of explicit material online. The Fijian government has previously approved the creation of a task force to examine the effects of pornography. This task force, co-chaired by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Communications, seeks to address the challenge of pornography’s availability on the internet.

There are increasing efforts to educate Fijians about responsible internet use, given the imminent introduction of global satellite internet services like Starlink. Furthermore, applications such as Telegram have raised concerns due to their use by young individuals exchanging explicit images.

While Fiji continues to struggle with these societal issues, the collective call to action from government representatives and healthcare professionals points to a hopeful shift towards resolution. The emphasis on education, awareness, and cooperation aims to create a healthier, informed generation capable of making responsible decisions, potentially reducing the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Fiji.