The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has made an urgent appeal for the establishment of a National Taskforce to tackle the distressing surge in missing children cases nationwide. Since the start of 2024, over 52 reports have been filed with the Police regarding children aged five to 17, underscoring significant gaps in the current child protection system.
This call to action was prompted by the tragic discovery of a deceased 15-year-old student in Tamavua-I-Wai last month, only days after the child went missing on Christmas Eve. Human Rights Commissioner Chantelle Khan has stressed that missing children cases should be treated as urgent protection emergencies, rather than merely law enforcement issues.
Khan advocates for a child-centered and preventive approach that enhances collaboration among various government entities, including the Police, Social Welfare, Education, and Health services, along with community stakeholders like the Vanua, religious organizations, and civil society. She believes a national taskforce would lead to quicker reporting, improved coordination, and effective response protocols for missing children incidents.
The Commission notes that children may disappear for diverse reasons, including domestic violence, neglect, organized crime, drug-related issues, trafficking, online grooming, and mental health concerns. The dangers that missing children face are severe, including the risk of violence, sexual exploitation, forced labor, substance abuse, and lasting psychological trauma.
Additionally, the Commission urges the State to ramp up efforts against drug syndicates and organized crime while enhancing family support services and protective measures within educational institutions and communities. By emphasizing legal and international obligations, including those outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Commission’s recommendations seek to catalyze collective action.
This appeal invites families, communities, and civil society to collaborate closely with authorities, conveying the essential message that every child deserves protection from harm. This coordinated effort and commitment to strengthening child protection could foster a collective responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of Fiji’s most vulnerable citizens.