There are ongoing efforts to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 - Tabuya

There are ongoing efforts to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 and to focus on diversion programs for children in conflict with the law.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya highlighted this during a meeting with the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla M'jid, to discuss Fiji's progress in protecting children's rights.

Tabuya says this initiative aims to address the underlying drivers of offending behaviour, which most often derive from experiences of abuse and neglect.

She says Fiji is moving away from a child protection model that focuses on removing children from families who abuse and neglect children, to one that prioritises supporting family and kin to care for children and addresses the causes of violence within the family.

The Minister further says that if passed into law and effectively implemented, these reforms will position Fiji as a model for child development.

She also outlined Fiji’s upcoming National Action Plan to eliminate violence against children, which is set to be introduced as a key development in the country’s ongoing child protection reforms.

Dr. Najat also congratulated Fiji on the significant strides the country has made in reforming its approach to child protection and the child justice system.