The Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection met with the Executive Director of UNICEF Catherine Russell who is visiting Fiji for the first time. It was a timely visitation as Hon Tabuya updated on the work of the ministry and acknowledge the vital partnership with UNICEF. This meeting was followed by a round table discussion at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva which was facilitated by UNICEF Pacific.
In her remarks, Hon. Tabuya conveyed her sincere appreciation to UNICEF for their long standing partnership and through technical expertise, funding, mentoring and advice, has enabled the Ministry to advance its work in the area of advancing child rights and effective intervention in violence against children.
She provided background on the challenges Fiji is encountering regarding child rights and wellbeing. Statistics show that five out of every six children in Fiji are abused or neglected by their family. There has been an increase in children losing parents and carers due to labour mobility and the rise in online predation targeting children in Fiji and the Pacific.
Hon. Tabuya emphasized that the role of the Government extends beyond fulfilling the commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It is important to drive the elevation of child rights and wellbeing as a strategic priority for Fiji; and create both a government and public perception that children’s rights, their development, and their wellbeing, are essential to Fiji and its future.
Hon. Tabuya highlighted the significant progress made in Fiji in advancing child rights and intervention in violence against children. This is evident through the introduction of two Bills to Parliament that have been 11 years in the making: the Child Care and Protection Bill and the Child Justice Bill, the vision to have a National Action Plan to eliminate Violence against Children, as well as the development of the proposed Child Wellbeing Centre.
Hon. Tabuya emphasized the need of continued partnership and collective participation in the crucial area of child rights and protection to ensure a safer and more inclusive society for all children.
Panelists that participated alongside Hon. Tabuya were Reverend Siera Bird from the Pacific Conferences of Churches, CEO for Empower Pacific Mr. Patrick Morgam, Executive Director for FWRM Ms. Nalini Singh, a representative from the University of the South Pacific, and from the CID and Fiji Police Force.