The Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, expressed that the statistics on child sexual abuse in Fiji should serve as a source of national shame. She shared this sentiment during her end-of-week statement in Parliament on Friday.
Kiran revealed recent data from the Fiji Police Force detailing child sexual abuse cases reported from 2021 to 2023, including the first half of 2024. In 2021, there were 729 reported cases, which rose to 1,034 in 2022, before decreasing to 844 cases in 2023. She noted that the first six months of 2024 have already seen 324 cases.
Rape emerged as the most common offense against children in Fiji. A breakdown of this year’s statistics indicates that out of the 324 cases reported, 215 involved children aged 13-17 years, 94 cases involved those aged 6-12 years, and 15 cases were infants aged 0-5 years. The data shows 104 cases of rape, 71 cases of indecent assault, and 60 cases of sexual assault. Females comprised the majority of the victims, totaling 297.
Despite a slight decline in numbers, Kiran emphasized that these figures should prompt serious reflection and shame within the nation. She urged all Fijians to confront the pressing issue of child sexual and domestic abuse, pointing to alarming statistics released monthly by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, which reveal ongoing failures to protect children.
Further statistics indicate that the average age of the youngest victims of child sexual abuse in the last six years is just two years old, with the youngest reported victim being only six months old. According to UNICEF, five out of every six children in Fiji experience abuse or neglect by their families. Kiran stressed the importance of taking these matters seriously.