A total of seventy seven cases of sexual abuse against children has been recorded for the first three months of this year.
These statistics were revealed at the first ever community awareness workshop on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children organised by Save the Children Fiji.
Training officer for Save Children, Adi Melania Tibika while addressing leaders of various NGO's, Government Ministries and Community Councils said the figures sends out a message that more needs to be done to address the issue.
According to Tibika, statistics from Police show that for 2008 there were a total of 54 cases reported, for 2009 there were 116 cases and stressed that the figures for this year were likely to increase.
She added that it is about time that religious organisations and communities move away from the "hush-hush" taboo practices when it comes to sex education, stressing that it should start from a young age.
Tibika then added that parents and communities should not rely on Police or the NGOs to carry out awareness stressing that education starts from home.
Meanwhile, Fiji Womens Crisis Centre's Edwina Kotoisuva stressed that when a case is highlighted by the media there is a lot of public outcry but people in the community are hesitant to step in when they see such abuse happening.
The workshop is currently being held at the JJ's on the Park in Suva.
Story by: Paradise Tabucala
