Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, expressed that the statistics on child sexual abuse are a source of national shame. During her statement in Parliament, she shared alarming data from the Fiji Police Force regarding child sexual abuse cases reported between 2021 and mid-2024.
In 2021, there were 729 reported cases of child sexual abuse, which rose to 1,034 in 2022 but saw a decline to 844 cases in 2023. So far in 2024, the first six months have already recorded 324 cases. Kiran noted that rape is the most common offence against children in Fiji.
A closer look at this year’s data reveals that the majority of reported cases, 215, involve children aged 13 to 17 years. The breakdown also includes 94 cases involving children aged 6 to 12 years and 15 cases involving infants aged 0 to 5 years. Among these cases, 104 were classified as rape, 71 as indecent assault, and 60 as sexual assault. It was highlighted that females represent the vast majority of victims, accounting for 297 cases.
While Kiran acknowledged a downward trend in the overall numbers, she emphasized that these statistics do not reflect the full reality and should provoke serious reflection as a nation. She urged all Fijians to address the issues of child sexual abuse and domestic violence, as the ongoing data released monthly by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) shows the extent of failure to protect children.
Additionally, Kiran noted that the typical age of the youngest victim in the last six years has been two years old, with the youngest victim recorded being only six months old. According to UNICEF, five out of six children in Fiji experience abuse or neglect from family members. Kiran stressed the need for serious attention to this issue.