FIJI STRENGTHENS GLOBAL COLLABORATIONS TO COMBAT CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ONLINE

01/10/2024

The Coalition Government is commited in keeping our people safe both in offline and online spaces. 

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica highlighted this as he updated parliament on the efforts undertaken by the National Taskforce to address Pornography in Fiji (1.10.24)

Hon. Kamikamica said this taskforce was approved by the Cabinet earlier this year to better understand the societal risks of pornography in Fiji and to provide recommendations to effectively address those risks.

“The taskforce held an introductory meeting earlier this year, with active participation and contributions from the Opposition, various Government Ministries and agencies, telecommunications companies, NGOs, civil society organisations, academia, as well     as religious and community organisations, each of them providing       a unique and important perspective during the discussions.”

Hon. Kamikamica added as the taskforce delves into the realities of these issues, it is confronted with alarming statistics that highlight its pervasive nature and the profound impact it has on our society.

He highlighted how, in one case, a network provider reported that over three months, 626.13 terabytes of data were used for adult content. He explained that this was the equal to storing data from 100 million books or watching movies non-stop for 150 years. 

The taskforce has also forged partnerships with international bodies such as the U.S. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and has started training law enforcement in Fiji on how to handle reports of child sexual exploitation material.

Hon. Kamikamica concluded that the fight against child sexual abuse online and pornography requires a collective responsibility from all sectors of the society.