Fiji is grappling with a disturbing trend of child sexual abuse, with Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, highlighting the severity of the issue in her latest address to Parliament. Data shows that last year, out of an alarming total of 755 sexual violence cases against children, 29 victims were infants under the age of five. This grim statistic forms part of the 63% of all sexual offences recorded last year that implicated children.
Ms. Kiran pointed out that children, tragically, are often the largest group affected by these reprehensible crimes every year in Fiji. In 2022, the number was even higher, with 34 infants affected. Meanwhile, the Fiji Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection logged 1977 child welfare cases through their Child Helpline and partner service providers in just one year. Of these, 62% were related to neglect, physical, or sexual abuse.
Further compounding the issue, evidence from the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey, supported by UNICEF, revealed that 80% of Fijian children aged 1-14 experienced some form of violent discipline within a month, and 1 in 5 suffered severe physical punishment. The Violence Against Children in Fiji Scoping Study corroborates these findings, depicting child abuse and neglect as pervasive issues throughout the society. The data underscores that 84% of children in rural areas and 76% in urban areas endure corporal punishment at home.
The minister stressed that beyond these numbers lie the individual stories of innocent children subjected to abuse in environments that should ideally offer them safety and care. Ms. Kiran’s appeal has been echoed in previous discussions where she highlighted that despite a slight decline in numbers from 1,034 cases in 2022 to 844 in 2023, the situation retains its critical nature.
While rape remains the most common crime against children in Fiji, the broader statistics include indecent and sexual assaults, with females tragically accounting for the majority of victims. The youngest recorded victims are shockingly young, averaging just two years old, with the youngest being a mere six months old.
The overall data paints a severe picture; it reveals Fiji’s systemic failure to protect its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. This persistent issue calls for not only national introspection but concerted effort and urgent action from all sectors of Fijian society. Ms. Kiran’s plea for serious action is not just a call to lawmakers but a plea to all who influence the welfare of children in Fiji, stressing that immediate cultural and systemic change is essential to reverse this tragic trend.