SODELPA parliamentarian Anare Jale today asked the Pacific Council of Churches General Secretary Reverend James Bhagwan on what they were doing to deal with the increasing number of Christians abusing children.
He asked the question during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence virtual meeting today on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
Reverend Bhagwan says it is understandable when you have 90% of the region as Christians, any crimes committed will have a large percentage of people involved.
He says they have a program they are rolling out with their partner churches in the area of child protection in partnership with UNICEF.
Reverend Bhagwan says they have Fiji Council of Churches members on board.
He says they are working on ensuring these churches have have safe church policies or child protection policies within their systems.
Reverend Bhagwan says they are also working on training programs to be run in faith communities.
He says this is around educating parents about the protection of children.
Bhagwan made a virtual submission on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.
