Tabuya Defends Her Action on Uploading Video on Facebook

The Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection has defended her decision to upload a video on her personal Facebook page of an 11-year-old child being physically assaulted and tortured at the hands of her father.

As of 7pm yesterday, the video uploaded by Lynda Tabuya has received 26,000 reactions, been shared 2400 times, and garnered more than 1000 comments.

Despite public outcry over the minister's decision to upload such videos, Ms Tabuya remains adamant that she made the right decision.

Yesterday, the Online Safety Commission issued a public statement, later shared on the Fiji Government Facebook page, pleading with the Fijian public to cease sharing the disturbing video of a child being subjected to violence on social media platforms.

The commission urged the public to refrain from spreading such content, stating that sharing such videos only perpetuated the cycle of violence and exploitation, emphasising the importance of responsible online behaviour and prioritising the well-being of those involved.

Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to privacy.

The law must protect children’s privacy, family, home, communications, and reputation (or good name) from any attack.

Save the Children Fiji also called out those sharing the video of the young girl being abused to stop doing so.

Its chief executive officer, Shairana Ali, said such actions not only violated the fundamental rights of the child but also perpetuated a cycle of violence with lasting detrimental effects.

Ms Ali said the organization firmly believed that every child had the right to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, free from fear and harm.

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), in a statement last night, expressed alarm at the evidence of child abuse depicted in the viral video.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Lynda Tabuya. Photo: DEPTFO

“It takes a lot to ponder on how to mitigate the issue.”

Ms Tabuya said if she received a written notification from the Online Safety Commission, then she would remove the video.

In her role as the Minister for Children, she said it was important for her to call out this behaviour.

“We need to bring our men on board education curriculum to teach our boys healthy relationships with girls,” Ms Tabuya said.

“We need to move away from corporal punishment; it’s a crime, it’s an assault, groping in our vanua leaders, the highest levels, the bose ni tikina, vanua, and yasana and take this as a high priority on the agenda.”

Under State care

Meanwhile, the ministry has taken further steps to place the young girl under state emergency care, where she will be cared for by the ministry since the victim does not feel safe at her own home.

“The trauma after what had occurred; the family members have given the permission that she needs to be in a safe house and counselling from a child psychologist,” Ms. Tabuya said.

“Let me remind parents and guardians that this kind of behaviour is a crime, and this must stop because five out of six children in Fiji face child abuse, which is more than what women face.”

She is challenging faith-based organisations, vanua leaders, and village heads to address this at the highest level possible because this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“I’m urging guidance and relatives to speak up on these issues and overcome the culture of fear which is a crime under the Crime Act and if a child dies surrounded by adults who failed in their duties to take care of the child, they can be charged for manslaughter by negligence,” she said.

UNICEF stands ready to support the ministry in providing safe confidential and dignified response services in this and other cases.

Feedback: sosiveta.korobiau@fijisun.com.fj

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