Serious concerns continue to be raised about the safety of children in the country, and according to the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection and National Federation Party MP Sashi Kiran, more than 50 percent of sexual crimes are committed against children.
While speaking at the NFP Annual Convention at the Civic Centre in Labasa, Kiran says they are working on developing a national child safety guarding policy, which will be launched soon.
She says they passed two child laws last December: the Child Justice Act and the Child Protection Act.
The Minister says under this government, a new Department of Children was developed to specifically look into the issues of and support for children.
She adds that her ministry is very focused not only on providing allowances to children, but also on providing support to them and their parents.
Kiran also raised the issue of neglect and crime against older persons.
She highlighted that they are looking at building better aged-care homes.
Speaking on social protection, the Minister highlighted that since this government has come in, there has been a 20 percent increase in all social protection allowances.
Kiran says there are more than 107,000 people on social protection allowances, and this year alone, $207 million has been allocated to the ministry to ensure that they are serving all vulnerable persons.
She says nation-building is everybody's responsibility.
