There is an increase in the number of rape and sexual assault cases reported to the Fiji women's crisis centre so far this year.
Centre Co-ordinator Shamima Ali said they received ten reports from women in the first quarter of this year which is an increase compared to five in the last two years.
Ali said of the ten rape cases reported to FWCC, one perpetrator was a workmate, three were neighbors, one was a boyfriend, one was an acquaintance, two were father in laws, one ex-boss and one teacher.
She said there has also been an increase in reports of sexual harassment received by the centre with ten cases.
She added that there has also been an increase in cases of child abuse reported to the centre for the first three months of the year with 14 cases.
Ali said that majority of the perpetrators were known to the victims.
A study by the FWCC on cases of sexual assault received in all of its branches between 1984 and 2014 shows that 82% of perpetrators were known to the victim while 17% were not known and 1% was not recorded.
Story by: Watisoni Butabua
