Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali is calling for heavier penalties for sexual offences against children. Photo: 123RF
There has been no reduction in the level of sexual offending against children in Fiji, the non-government organisation Save the Children Fiji says.
December 2023 Rape and Sexual Offences Statistics released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions show nine people are facing 44 charges related to sexual offences.
Thirty-three were recorded as rape, four as indecent assault, and three as sexual assault. Half of the incidents involved victims who were known or related to the perpetrators.
The report said two of the nine people charged were juveniles.
Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali said statistics released monthly show there is no improvement.
"It is unacceptable for such heinous crimes against children to become the norm," Ali said.
"The statistics are released every month and it almost seems like it's the news of the day and then people move on with their daily routine and forget about it.
"We don't see a lot of public outrage or outrage from various partners involved in this work including the government, but this is not something that should be accepted.
"If we continue to be complacent as duty bearers very soon nobody's going to react and action to address these issues will not necessarily eventuate."
Ali is calling for heavier penalties, even life sentences, for sexual offences against children.
"We think that harsher penalties will help in terms of acting as a deterrent for potential perpetrators."
She said Fiji has well established laws for child protection compared to other Pacific countries but there were opportunities for the government and civil society organisations to improve.
"The gaps are mainly around implementation of those laws and policies," she said.
Ali also said more funding should go into prevention work.