Fiji is facing a distressing increase in child sexual abuse cases, as highlighted by the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, during a recent parliamentary address. With over 755 reported cases of sexual violence against children last year, the statistics paint a worrying picture: 29 of the victims were infants under five years old, forming 63% of the sexual offences reported that year involving children.
Ms. Kiran shed light on the somber reality that children are the most affected by these appalling crimes in Fiji. The previous year, 34 infants were similarly affected by such heinous acts. In 2022 alone, the Fiji Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection recorded 1,977 child welfare cases via their Child Helpline and partner organizations, 62% of which were related to neglect or abuse.
The situation is further aggravated by findings from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, backed by UNICEF, which found that 80% of Fijian children aged 1-14 faced some violent form of discipline within a month, and 20% experienced severe physical punishment. This aligns with the Violence Against Children in Fiji Scoping Study, which underscores that both rural (84%) and urban (76%) children face corporal punishment at home.
Minister Kiran emphasized that these numbers represent the tragic stories of innocent children suffering abuse in environments meant to protect them. Although there has been a slight reduction in total reported cases from 1,034 in 2022 to 844 in 2023, the gravity of the situation remains.
Rape persists as the most common crime against children, but the statistics also include indecent and sexual assaults, with females being the majority of victims. Alarmingly, the youngest victims are extremely young, with an average age of two years, and the youngest recorded victim just six months old.
This data highlights a detrimental failure in Fiji to safeguard its youngest citizens. Addressing this urgent crisis demands not just introspection from the nation but also collective action from all societal sectors. Minister Kiran’s appeal is a call to action for cultural and systemic reforms essential to reversing this tragic trend and ensuring safety for Fiji’s children.