Parents can face legal consequences for their children’s involvement in serious crimes such as sexual assault and rape. This was highlighted by Inspector Unaisi Mateiwai of the Fiji Police Force’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse unit during a recent Christian rally. Inspector Mateiwai stressed that the law permits taking parents and guardians to task if necessary.
She pointed out that children gain easy access to illicit content on social media due to a lack of parental monitoring. She cited a devastating case where a five-year-old and a three-month-old girl were victims of rape, suggesting that such incidents could have been prevented with more vigilant parental oversight. “That rape happened from what they were watching,” said Inspector Mateiwai.
Inspector Mateiwai emphasized that mobile phones and other electronic devices are negatively influencing children. As per the law, children are allowed to own a mobile phone and have a social media account without supervision only once they turn 18. Until then, parents must know their children’s passwords and actively monitor and guide their activities.
She warned that if a child breaks the law, parents might also be held accountable. “When they are found or caught, they are transferred to us at the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit. If we see that the reason the child broke the law was because their parents were not aware of what they were doing, then we can arrest the parent,” Inspector Mateiwai stated.