Survivors of sexual violence must be able to access support and legal processes in ways that prioritise their safety, dignity, and long-term recovery.
This has been highlighted by Fiji Women’s Rights Movement Executive Director Nalini Singh as cases dragging on in the court system for years is a real concern as just this week a case of an alleged attempted rape of a 6 year old girl by her uncle had to be withdrawn by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as the young girl did not want to give evidence anymore.
The FWRM says they are deeply concerned about delays within the court system in urgently addressing sexual violence cases involving children, to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
Singh says when systemic barriers repeatedly fail a child, it is the system itself that must be reformed.
She says this situation should not set a precedent for other women and girls seeking justice and struggling to have their cases heard.
The FWRM says this highlights systemic failures that allow violence against children to persist and impede survivors’ access to timely, effective justice.
They say their research indicates that children make up the majority of rape victims and survivors.
Their ten-year analysis of rape cases decided in the High Court between 2016–2025 found that most victims and survivors were under 18 years old.
They say infants and very young children were repeatedly recorded as victims, including a 6-month-old in 2018 and a 6-year-old in 2025.
The FWRM says the same analysis also established that survivors often waited two to three years for their cases to be decided.
They highlight that court backlogs would mean an even longer wait.
They say the withdrawal of this case not only denied a young survivor the resolution she sought but also sends a damaging signal to other victims that the justice system may not be reliable or responsive.
The FWRM says the survivor was just six years old when the abuse occurred and six years later, now aged 13, she was still waiting for justice.
They say prolonged delay not only denies timely justice but also subjects survivors to prolonged psychological distress by reopening trauma, deepening anxiety, and undermining their sense of safety and dignity.
FWRM adds that as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Fiji has an obligation to ensure the safety and protection of all girls in the country.
They stress that we must affirm that every child’s dignity and rights matter.
