Fiji’s first Child Safeguarding Policy has been passed by Cabinet.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran told Parliament yesterday this was a significant milestone in strengthening Fiji’s commitment to protecting every child from abuse, and identifying and stopping abuse that might already be happening.
“We have committed, under both Fijian law and international conventions, specifically the Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure every child is safe from violence, not only in schools and institutions, but also in their homes and communities,” Ms Kiran said.
“The policy was developed through widely consulted process across government agencies, the National Coordinating Committee for Children, civil society partners, private sector representatives, and community groups.”
She said the policy was built on simple but firm guiding principles.
“Zero tolerance: abuse, neglect, and exploitation will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“Child-centred: the voices and rights of children must be respected, and their best interests must always guide decisions.
“Shared responsibility: safeguarding children is not the job of government alone, it is the duty of every individual and organisation.
“Accountability: those who fail to safeguard children will face consequences”
Ms Kiran said these principles were not negotiable and leave no room for excuses, no space for silence and no tolerance for negligence.
