The Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, expressed that the reported cases of sexual abuse involving children should evoke shame for Fiji as a nation. She made this statement during her weekly address in Parliament on Friday, where she presented recent statistics from the Fiji Police Force concerning child sexual abuse incidents from 2021 to mid-2024.
According to the data, 2021 saw 729 cases reported, which rose to 1,034 cases in 2022, followed by a decrease in 2023 to 844 cases. In the first half of 2024, there have already been 324 cases reported. Kiran highlighted that the most common offense targeting children in Fiji is rape.
Breaking down the statistics for the current year, the data shows that:
– Ages 13-17 reported the highest number of cases at 215.
– Ages 6-12 accounted for 94 cases.
– Ages 0-5, including infants, had 15 cases.
Rape was identified as the most frequent offense with 104 cases, followed by 71 cases of indecent assault and 60 cases of sexual assault. The vast majority of victims, accounting for 297, were female.
Despite a downward trend in some statistics, Kiran emphasized that these numbers still reflect a dire reality that should prompt national introspection. She urged Fijians to address the issues of child sexual abuse and domestic violence directly, noting that each month the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) publishes alarming data that shows a consistent failure to protect children.
She drew attention to the disturbing trend 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 reported being only six months old. Data from UNICEF indicates that five out of six children in Fiji experience some form of abuse or neglect within their families. Kiran underscored the importance of taking these issues seriously.