Justice delayed is justice denied: FWRM warns on child sexual abuse case delays

The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) has raised concerns over delays in the court system in dealing with sexual violence cases involving children, warning that prolonged waits for justice are harming survivors and undermining confidence in the legal process.

The organisation’s concerns follow recent media reports of the withdrawal of a court case involving a girl who waited six years for justice.

FWRM said the case highlighted systemic failures that continued to impede survivors’ access to timely and effective justice.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” the organisation said.

According to FWRM research, children make up the majority of rape victims and survivors in Fiji.

Its 10-year analysis of rape cases decided in the High Court between 2016 and 2025 found most victims and survivors were under 18 years old.

The research also documented cases involving infants and very young children, including a six-month-old in 2018 and a six-year-old in 2025.

FWRM said survivors often waited between two and three years for cases to be decided, while court backlogs could result in even longer delays.

The organisation said the withdrawn case sent a troubling message to survivors.

“The withdrawal of this case not only denied a young survivor from the resolution she sought but also sends a damaging signal to other victims that the justice system may not be reliable or responsive.”

FWRM said the survivor was six years old when the abuse occurred and was still waiting for justice at age 13.

The organisation warned prolonged delays could deepen trauma and psychological distress for survivors.

“The prolonged delay not only denies timely justice but subjects survivors to prolonged psychological distress by reopening trauma, deepening anxiety, and undermining their sense of safety and dignity.”

FWRM executive director Nalini Singh called for systemic reform.

“When systemic barriers repeatedly fail a child, it is the system itself that must be reformed. Survivors of sexual violence must be able to access support and legal processes in ways that prioritise their safety, dignity, and long-term recovery. This situation should not set a precedent for other women and girls seeking justice and struggling to have their cases heard,” Ms Singh said.

FWRM also reminded Fiji of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Fiji has an obligation to ensure the safety and protection of all girls in the country. We must affirm that every child’s dignity and rights matter.”