Harsher penalties for sex offenders

The Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has indicated that his office will investigate the possibility of introducing harsher penalties as a means to deter perpetrators of sex crimes.

This comes in the wake of the escalating rise in the sexual assaults against women and girls in the last few months.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds that while reasons may vary, such attacks on women indicates the diminishing respect for them that is on the rise, adding that it is fast becoming a norm for perpetrators to attack the weak and vulnerable.

The AG's office said with the harsher penalties to be introduced, his office will be willing to work with non-governmental organizations such as the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre and the Fiji Women's Rights Movement to look into this problem.