A total of 4963 child abuse cases were recorded by the national child welfare between 2021 and 2023.
Statistics shared by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection also outlined that more than 50 per cent of these victims were girls and more than half were under 12 years old.
In addition, the ministry said 68 per cent of reported cases involved neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse; 50 per cent of perpetrators were immediate family members and 50 per cent of cases were reported through the child helpline.
The ministry said statistics from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics’ Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS Plus 2024-2025) also showed that 80 per cent of children aged one to 14 experienced violent discipline in the past month.
“Additionally, recent statistics from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions show that the youngest rape victim last year was a three-year-old, while the youngest accused was just 12 years old,” the ministry said.
Recognising the dire situation, the ministry has, in an effort to strengthen child protection mechanisms, set its focus on reviving the National Coordinating Committee on Child Protection.
During a meeting on Tuesday, Minister Sashi Kiran said there was an urgent need for a coordinated approach to address child protection challenges, especially in light of alarming statistics on violence against children.
“In the coming months, we aim to implement key legislations, including the Adoption Act (2020), Child Justice Act (2024) and Child Care and Protection Act (2024),” she said.
“We will also focus on strengthening child protection training, monitoring systems and coordination with partners.”
She said the newly-established Department of Children played a vital role in safeguarding children’s rights and reaffirmed the ministry’s stance on developing a zero-tolerance campaign against violence.
