132 child abuse cases in 5 months: NSAAC

Fiji recorded 132 child abuse cases for the first five months this year.

This was revealed to FijiLive by the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council (NSAAC) director Misaele Driubalavu.

There are 47 cases in January, 11 cases in February, 41 in March, 12 in April and 21 in May.

Driubalavu said out of the abuse cases, sexual abuse tops the list where 68 cases were recorded in 5 months where most cases were reported in January and March.

He said next to the list is physical abuse where 18 were recorded and then neglect and malnutrition cases.

There was a decrease in teenage pregnancy and indecent assault recorded.

In 2010, 114 sexual abuse cases, 63 physical abuse cases, 86 neglect cases, 78 victims of parental conflict, 51 abandonment cases, 30 emotional abuses, 67 beyond control cases and 13 cases available for adoption were recorded.

NASSC under the the Ministry of Education has decided that it will continue to support the Blue Ribbon Campaign and the Elimination of Violence Against Girls and Women with the IDADAIT Campaign in view of the strong relationship between drugs and substance abuse with child abuse and violence against girls and women.  

Driubalavu said this includes physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse commercial sexual exploitation of children, rape, assaults and its significance to the Ministry of Education Corporate Plan 2012 Output 4.2on Safety Health and Care of all Students in Schools Improved.  

By Ropate Valemei