Reverend Semisi Turagavou, President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, has called on parents to take up their responsibilities amid increasing concerns about child neglect. A recent report from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection indicates that 76 percent of children who have been abused or neglected in Fiji come from Christian households. Furthermore, 75 percent of these affected children are iTaukei. Reverend Turagavou pointed out that the high rate of involvement of Christian families in such issues is detrimental to the community’s image.
He stated, “We acknowledge that there is a problem, and we will not shy away from it,” emphasizing that the church takes full responsibility as social challenges within homes continue to rise despite various awareness campaigns. To tackle these family and child-related issues, the church is considering cutting back on some of its programs to allow more time for family interactions.
Reverend Turagavou noted that many congregation members spend too much time on church activities, which detracts from family time. “We are trying to strengthen the family unit, which is where we should start. Otherwise, the negative effects will eventually impact the children,” he explained. He added that the church aims to collaborate with the congregation to enhance family connections, which will help address these pressing concerns.