In 121 incidences of rape and sexual offences against children from January 2017 to June 2018, the perpetrator is related to the child and 34 perpetrators are children themselves.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa while speaking at the Early Childhood Education Week celebrations in Kulukulu Primary School, Sigatoka.
Vuniwaqa says as a mother, she is also very concerned about the increasing statistics on crimes against children, particularly sex crimes against children.
She says in 2018, the youngest victim of rape and sexual offences in Fiji is 2-years-old and the average age of youngest victims is 4 and half years which is a worrying fact.
Vuniwaqa says for the period of January 2017 to June 2018, out of the 308 victims of rape and sexual offences, 199 were children below 18-years-old.
She says 64.6% of the victims of rape and sexual offences are children.
Vuniwaqa says in 2017, the youngest victim was 1-year-10 months and the average age of youngest victims is 6 years.
She says this is why we need to call it out as we cannot afford to sweep these incidents under the carpet.
The Minister for Children says rape and sexual crimes against children thrive under a shroud of silence and if we remain quiet about it for the sake of keeping the family together or saving the reputation of the family, then we are as guilty as the perpetrators for continuing the vicious cycle of crimes against children.
