Following the passing of the Child Justice Act and the Child Care and Protection Act in 2024, regulations are still being developed, with the laws expected to come into effect by the end of next month.
The Child Care and Protection Act protects children at risk, while the Child Justice Act changes how children in conflict with the law are treated.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says different ministries and the courts have to develop their own regulations.
While speaking to fijivillage News, Kiran says the Ministry has developed all the regulations, and multi-stakeholder consultations have been taking place within the courts and among those who will be involved in looking after children under the Child Justice Act.
Kiran says they are almost at the final stages and are hoping that the regulations will come into effect by June.
She says they are very concerned about violence against anyone, but especially children.
The Minister stresses that children are the most vulnerable and they have been working on ways to prevent violence against them.
Kiran says they have started consultations on children with disabilities aged zero to five because that area is not fully covered.
She says consultations are continuing, and they are developing a National Action Plan on the Prevention of Violence Against Children.
The Minister adds that they are hoping to move into validation workshops for the plan within the next month or so.
