Minister calls on all Fijians to act as child abuse costs nation $460m a year

Child abuse is costing Fiji nearly $460 million every year and demands urgent action from every sector of society, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran has told Parliament.

Citing data from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, Ms Kiran said violence against children equates to 4.23 percent of GDP, with costs borne through emotional trauma, health burdens, reduced quality of life and extra financial pressure on families and government services.

“This is not the job of government alone — it is the duty of every individual and organisation,” she said.

The new National Child Safeguarding Policy, endorsed by Cabinet, will apply to all institutions and organisations that work with children, including churches, schools, NGOs, businesses and sports clubs.

“This Policy is a national standard. If you work with children, you are bound by it,” Ms Kiran said.

She called on parliamentarians, private sector leaders, faith groups and community elders to join forces.

“Let us stand together, across political lines, to say with one voice: every child in Fiji deserves to be safe, every child deserves to be heard, and every child deserves to be protected from all forms of violence.”