CHILDREN are bearing the brunt of sexual violence in Fiji, with minors accounting for all High Court rape victims recorded in 2025.
This was highlighted by Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran while speaking at the recent Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium High-Level Dialogue at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus.
Ms Kiran said the situation had worsened progressively, with children making up 93 per cent of High Court rape victims in 2024 before reaching 100 per cent the following year.
“Alarmingly, the trend worsened progressively, with minors accounting for 93 per cent of all High Court rape victims in 2024, rising to 100 per cent in 2025,” she said.
Ms Kiran said the scale of sexual abuse against children was reflected in the 4793 cases reported between 2020 and 2025, compared with 2153 cases involving women.
She said violence in the home was also having a profound impact on children.
According to the Gender Assessment report, 55 per cent of women who experienced intimate partner violence said their children had witnessed the violence.
Ms Kiran also cited UNICEF data showing that most children experienced harsh physical or psychological punishment at home.
She warned that exposure to violence and abuse could perpetuate intergenerational trauma and undermine families, the workforce and national stability.
“Ending it requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response,” she said.
Ms Kiran said Fiji’s National Action Plan 2023–2028 was a major pillar of the Government’s response, with a focus on preventing violence before it occurred.
She said the Government was working closely with the Great Council of Chiefs, with gender equality officers now embedded in all 14 provincial offices through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, and also working with faith-based organisations and community leaders to promote respectful relationships and challenge harmful gender norms.
