Statistics show a disturbing, continuing trend in sexual offences

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has released disturbing statistics in sexual offences for last month. These are serious offences only. They don’t include the minor cases. But any sexual offence should be serious because if it is not addressed early it would develop to more serious offending and could become addictive. ODPP says 21 people were charged with 41 counts of separate incidents in July. The offences were rape (30), defilement (1) and sexual assault (10).

Of the 21 people charged, one was a juvenile. A 16-yearold boy was charged with the rape of a six-year-old girl from his village.

There were 20 victims of whom 10 victims were under the age of 18 years. There were 19 female victims and one male victim. In nine incidents, the accused and victims were related.

These alleged heinous crimes are shocking, sickening and heart wrenching. How could a 59-year-old man allegedly rape his four-year-old granddaughter?

Then there was an incident where a 21-year-old man and a 49-year-old man allegedly raped their 20-year-old sister and daughter.

In another incident, a 38-year-old man was charged with representative counts of rape and sexual assault of his 17-year-old daughter.

A 65-year-old man was charged with the rape and sexual assault of his 30-year-old sister-in- law while a 33-year-man was charged with the rape of his 38-year-old sisterin-law.

It gets worse. The horror list continues:

A 35-year-old man allegedly raped his 15-year-old niece. A 24-year-old man allegedly raped and sexually assaulted his 16-year-old stepsister.

A 43-year-old man allegedly raped his 26-year-old wife. These cases paint a grim picture that women and girls are not safe in their own homes in the company of relatives.

And when they leave home danger also lurks outside. A 15-year-old girl was in a bus and was allegedly raped by the 30-year-old bus driver.

Even our older folks are not spared. A 60-year-old woman was allegedly robbed and raped by a 28-year-old man. A 62-year-old Australia tourist was alleged raped by a resort employee.

Other cases highlighted underscore the gravity of this subject.

A 25-year-old man was charged with the rape of a 16-year-old girl during curfew hours.

A 39-year-old man was charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 10-year-old deaf and mute boy.

Two 21-year-old men were charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman whom they met on Facebook. The victim was allegedly drugged and abused by the two men.

A 28-year-old man was charged with the rape and sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl from his village while in another incident an 18-year-old man was charged with the rape of a 17- year-old girl.

We cannot and should not remain silent about this serious problem of sexual offences any longer.

We call upon all stakeholders - families, faith-based groups, community leaders, village and settlement elders, sports organisations and other non-governmental organisations to collectively address this issue and attack the root cause.

NEMANI DELAIBATIKI