The revelation that more than 16,000 child welfare cases, including thousands involving neglect and physical abuse, were registered by the Department of Children between 2012 and 2025 is a major concern.
It should prick our conscience and make us sit up. It should stimulate serious discussions and a commitment to find solutions. This concerns us because it touches the very heart of our young, their vulnerability and innocence, and the future of our nation.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says the figures are a wake-up call for families, schools and communities to take urgent action to protect children.
Speaking at the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child celebration at Suva Grammar School Hall yesterday, she highlighted child neglect, missing youth and sexual violence as serious concerns requiring immediate attention.
She stressed that these crises were closely connected and that society could not afford to ignore them.
Police data recorded 1703 missing persons cases between 2021 and 2025, with children accounting for 46 per cent of those reported missing. The situation is more disturbing when we consider the findings of the 2025 report from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Of 135 rape and sexual offence victims, 79, or 58.5 per cent, were children under 18. Some were as young as four and five years old.
Ms Kiran said some cases involved abuse within families, while some accused persons were juveniles as young as 12.
Teachers have been urged to take disclosures of abuse seriously and report suspected cases immediately.
When a child finds the courage to speak, she said, adults must listen, believe them and ensure the matter reaches the appropriate authorities without delay.
Parents, too, have been encouraged to make time for their children and create safe environments where they can speak openly, without fear of judgment or punishment.
Children experiencing abuse or feeling unsafe are encouraged to contact the free Child Helpline on 1325.
In the face of all this, we say parents and guardians must take a hard look at what is happening around them. Children need guidance, attention and protection as they navigate the challenges of growing up.
So, let us be honest with ourselves. We may require lifestyle changes, compromises and a willingness to accept that something must change on the home front. It could mean greater vigilance, more meaningful conversations and simple, sensible measures to keep children safe.
We should know what our children need from us. If we are unsure, we must seek help, ask questions and learn. There is no shame in admitting that we need guidance, but there is no excuse for turning away when a child needs us.
Protecting children begins at home and must extend into every school, neighbourhood and community. We say every child deserves to feel safe, heard and protected. We should not gamble with their innocence. Their future, and Fiji’s, depends on the choices we make today!
