Last year’s youngest rape victim was a three-year-old.
A Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls Rape Case Analysis 2021 by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement said the average age of all victims and survivors of rape cases finalised in Fiji’s High Courts last year was 15 years.
The report said the average age of the perpetrators was 36 years.
FWRM executive director Nalini Singh said the report was a continuation of the annual rape cases analysis undertaken by FWRM since 2016 as part of its ongoing research and advocacy on strengthening Fijian women’s access to justice.
She said the findings from the 22 rape cases finalised in the High Court last year revealed the disturbing prevalence of the sexual abuse of the girl child and worsening situation for sexual violence in Fiji.
“The way criminal trials of sexual offences are run indicate society’s attitudes towards sexual crimes, of which women and girls are overwhelmingly victims,” she said.
“Gender bias and harmful stereotypes often creep their way into the most public of spaces.”
Ms Singh said COVID-19 has also impacted access to justice by women and girls.
She said FWRM recommended specialised courts with speedier, streamlined processes as the way forward during such crisis situations to ensure faster turnaround times for sexual violence cases.
“‘In 64 per cent of these cases, the victim or survivor knew the accused.
“The continuous nature of child sexual abuse and exploitation is a stark reminder that we are a long way from ensuring safe spaces for children, especially the girl child, in Fiji.”
