Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica stated that the Coalition Government is committed to tackling pornography, indicating that they may consider banning certain websites if deemed necessary.
During a recent update to Parliament on the National Taskforce to Address Pornography, he highlighted the significance of international cooperation and enhancing legal structures to safeguard children from online sexual exploitation during their first meeting.
Kamikamica noted discussions around current child protection laws and emphasized the need for more thorough policies to meet the challenges posed by the digital world.
He mentioned the establishment of three working groups, each assigned specific goals aligned with the taskforce’s broader objectives.
The first working group will concentrate on policy, legislation, governance, and criminal justice, chaired by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection. The second group, led by the Online Safety Commission, will focus on survivor support and empowerment, while the third group will address industry and technology responses, chaired by the Telecommunications Authority of Fiji.
“To ensure our initiatives are effective, we will implement solid mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation,” Kamikamica stated. He also mentioned the establishment of feedback channels to allow the community to contribute to their efforts, ensuring that they respond to citizens’ needs.
The next meeting of the National Taskforce is scheduled for this month, where the Working Groups will share their findings, and discussions will continue to comprehensively address the issue of pornography usage in Fiji.
“I have been saying in this Parliament that we are serious about our actions, and we are indeed considering banning some sites if necessary,” he added.