Sashi Kiran, the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, has stated that the issue of child sexual abuse in Fiji should instill a sense of shame within the nation. She made these comments during her end-of-week statement in Parliament yesterday.
Kiran presented new statistics from the Fiji Police Force, revealing child sexual abuse cases reported between 2021 and 2023, including the first half of 2024. The data shows that in 2021, there were 729 reported cases, which rose to 1,034 in 2022, but fell to 844 in 2023. So far in 2024, there have been 324 cases recorded.
According to Kiran, rape remains the most frequently reported crime against children in Fiji. Breaking down this year’s data, of the 324 cases reported, 215 involve children aged 13-17, 94 involve those aged 6-12, and 15 are infants aged 0-5. Specifically, the statistics reveal that 104 cases pertain to rape, with 71 cases of indecent assault and 60 cases of sexual assault. The vast majority of victims, 297, are female.
Despite a downward trend in overall figures, Kiran emphasized that these statistics should prompt deep reflection within society. She urged all Fijians to address the severe problem of child sexual and domestic abuse, highlighting the disturbing trend revealed by the Director of Public Prosecutions which indicates systemic failures to protect the nation’s children.
The data also indicates that the average age of the youngest victims of child sexual abuse over the past six years is just two years old, with the youngest victim being only six months old. According to UNICEF, five out of every six children in Fiji experience abuse or neglect within their own families. Kiran called for immediate action and a serious response to these alarming issues.