Report says child sex trafficking remains a serious problem
Children may be forced to sell sex on the street by their families or family friends to cover expenses

Report says child sex trafficking remains a serious problem

Children may be forced to sell sex on the street by their families or family friends to cover expenses

By Vijay Narayan , Simione Tuvuki
24/02/2021
[Image: File Photo]

Child sex trafficking remains a serious problem in Fiji according to the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2020 which has also been quoted in Fiji’s first-ever Migration Profile Report published by the UN’s International Organisation for Migration.

The report also highlights that Fiji is a source, destination and transit country for men, women and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. It says children may be forced to sell sex on the street by their families or family friends, or forced to have sex to cover their family’s rent payments or other costs.

The US State Department report quoted also says the practice of sending children to live with relatives or friends in larger cities can place some children at risk of domestic servitude or forced sex in exchange for food, clothing, shelter, or before shelter.

It says children may be exploited by taxi drivers, foreign tourists, businessmen and crew on foreign fishing vessels.

The report further highlights that despite the magnitude of this problem, few victims have been identified and there has only been two convictions for child sex trafficking in 2014 and 2019.

The first trafficking in person conviction in Fiji was in 2010, the same year the Crimes Act came into force and introduced Fiji’s second piece of legislation addressing trafficking in persons. Since then, at least 27 incidents of trafficking have been investigated or prosecuted in Fiji. Data published since 2018 on indictments filed by Fiji’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions indicate two individuals were charged with trafficking in persons crimes involving five victims in 2019, and there were 23 counts of trafficking in 2018 for domestic and international trafficking, as well as one for “debt bondage”.

The report says cases have involved luring foreign nationals – often Bangladeshis, Chinese and Indians to Fiji with the false promise of jobs in Australia, New Zealand or attractive jobs in Fiji and forcing them to work under exploitative conditions. It also says Fijians were subjected to forced labour in New Zealand or Australia – usually in agriculture or construction, forced labour and slavery in Fiji – including on small farms, factories and fishing vessels (including foreign nationals on foreign vessels using Suva for port services and Fijians on foreign vessels.

The US report says Fiji is also a transit country for trafficking in persons. Most known perpetrators are Chinese, Fijian and Indian as international trafficking has usually involved agents in Fiji and overseas.

Based on the findings in the reports, the Migration Profile Report recommends that there should be an increase in services and protections for victims of trafficking in persons. They say attention should be focused on labour migrants who have been exploited and/or trafficked and victims of other forms of trafficking in persons to ensure they receive appropriate legal, immigration and financial protections, including the right to extend their stay if appropriate to enable prosecution of perpetrators.

It also says amendments should adhere to international conventions on migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons to which Fiji is a signatory, such that all forms of trafficking are criminalized in Fiji’s domestic legislation.

Fijivillage will soon speak to Police, Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation about the report.

FEATURE NEWS
Woman found dead at PRB Flats this morning
A woman has been found dead at the new Lagilagi Public Rental Board Flats today and it is alleged at this stage that she was murdered. When fijivil...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
More than 250,000 mourners attended the funeral service for the late Pope Francis today
More than 250,000 mourners attended a simplified funeral service for the late Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, at the Vatican today, ...
3 hours ago

Vanua of Caumatalevu pledges support to Police in fight against crime
The Vanua of Caumatalevu in the province of Macuata has pledged its support towards the strengthening of community and vanua-based approaches in ...
3 hours ago

FCCC secures $27,800 in fines and compensation for consumer protection breaches
A fine and compensation of $27,800 has been secured by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, successfully prosecuting traders for serious ...
3 hours ago

Calls grow to protect migrant workers facing abuse in Fiji
Migrant workers come to Fiji chasing the promise of a better life but for some migrant workers, that dream has turned into a quiet struggle. The ...
3 hours ago

About 10 people injured in a mini bus accident at Centre Point today
About 10 people were injured this morning after a mini bus travelling from Nausori to Suva was involved in a serious accident at Centre Point. A ...
4 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Tevita Ikanivere on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show focuses on Ikanivere’s journey, his family, career and how far the Drua has ...
5 days ago

Daniel Fatiaki and Professor Narsey on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Chair of the Electoral Reform Commission and former Chief Justice, Daniel Fatiaki and Electoral Reform Commissioner and economist, Professor Wadan ...
5 days ago

Top Interventional Cardiologist Dr Kapadia on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show will focus on health services in the country. The former Marist Brothers Primary and High School student who has been practising medicine ...
20 days ago

TOP