The 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report on Fiji paints a grim picture of the exploitation of vulnerable populations within the nation. According to the report, traffickers, including family members and foreign tourists, have been taking advantage of children as young as 12, continuing for purposes of sex and forced labor in popular tourist spots, fishing vessels, and hotels.
Over the past five years, both governmental and civil organizations have documented the nature and scope of such trafficking. Disturbingly, a 2023 prevalence study found that around 20% of respondents either experienced or knew someone who had experienced trafficking. Victims are often found exploited in commercial sex establishments, hotels, private homes, and massage parlors, with traffickers using digital platforms to facilitate sex trafficking. Furthermore, many instances involve Fijian and Chinese nationals, who are frequently targeted in massage parlors operated by Chinese nationals in Suva.
The report highlights that traditional practices further exacerbate the risks. As families send children to live with relatives in cities, these children are often vulnerable to exploitation in return for basic necessities. This vulnerability extends to tourists in yachts docking in rural islands, with young women and children targeted, leading to exploitation in forced labor or sex trafficking.
The economic downturn due to the pandemic and natural disasters has only elevated these risks, increasing the prevalence of children on the streets, leading to more opportunities for exploitation. Children, sometimes with the involvement of family members, are forced into sex trafficking, with media reports noting an increase in online child sexual exploitation. This situation underscores a significant decline in child safety and protection.
Beyond local avenues, labor traffickers exploit workers from countries such as Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines in sectors like agriculture and construction. Evidence suggests that some Chinese nationals working on projects affiliated with significant initiatives like China’s Belt and Road are vulnerable to forced labor in Fiji.
Foreign yachts and crews exploit migrant fishermen, primarily from Southeast Asia, on Fijian or foreign-flagged vessels, often from China. These fishermen face horrendous conditions, including threats of violence and debt-based coercion. Fiji also experiences outbound trafficking, with Fijians being exploited abroad in Australia, New Zealand, and Egypt.
This report highlights the critical issues behind human trafficking in Fiji and calls for enhanced collaboration among governmental and non-governmental organizations, better data collection, and sustained efforts to combat this grave human rights violation. The exploitation of children and vulnerable workers is a pervasive problem demanding urgent action to protect and uphold the rights of these individuals, creating hope for change and a safer environment.