Child rights organisation Save the Children Fiji has called on families, particularly adults, to do better in the protection of their children.

The increasing prevalence of child rape in Fiji and noted to be reaching “epidemic proportions” has brought the issue of children’s safety and security to the fore, and strong calls to parents and families to be extra vigilant.

Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali made the comments as they commended and welcomed the recent Supreme Court’s judgement to uphold a 13-year jail term with a non-parole period of 11 years of a man convicted of one count of rape of a child.

According to court documents, the child was only three-years-old at the time the offence was committed.

“Every child has a right to be protected from harm, to feel safe, and well cared for so they can thrive and the abuse of children must stop,” Ms Ali said.

“When children are hurt, especially by the people who they most trust, the damaging impact on their health and wellbeing is a lifelong one. We must do better for our children in Fiji by creating safe and nurturing environments for them to feel loved and protected from all forms of abuse.

“Keeping children safe is everyone’s job, we need to create spaces to talk about what’s happening with our children and take proactive measures to protect children whether they are in their homes, at school, church, mosque or temple, playground and public or private places.”