A National Taskforce aimed at addressing pornography in Fiji has convened for the first time, chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica, alongside the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya.
Endorsed by Cabinet earlier this year, the Taskforce includes key stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups to tackle the rise of pornographic content and its societal impacts, along with the urgent issue of online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
During the meeting, Tabuya emphasized the necessity of a united effort in combating online exploitation, highlighting that this gathering represents a significant step in the commitment to protect children from the risks associated with online pornography.
Mereseini Rakuita, Principal Strategic Lead for Pacific Women and Girls at SPC, remarked on the importance of the taskforce and the government’s role, stating that it is crucial for addressing pornography in Fiji and potentially across the Pacific.
The global porn industry generates nearly $97 billion annually. Rakuita noted that Fiji ranks among the top ten countries for the highest number of internet searches related to pornography, revealing that an unnamed internet provider reported 626.13 terabytes of internet traffic dedicated to viewing pornographic content in Fiji during the third quarter of 2023. This amount of data is comparable to the contents of 100 million books.
The NTAP Fiji meeting gathered representatives from various fields to craft comprehensive strategies against the negative effects of pornography and illegal content, especially in efforts to protect children in the digital realm. Additionally, the taskforce will explore effective strategies to promote responsible social media and internet usage.
Through collaboration, this taskforce aims to establish a nationwide approach to safeguard the welfare of all Fijians and foster a healthier society.