Shocking stats

IN a shocking turn of events this week, we learn that 16 victims of formally indicted sex offences last month were minors, including a five-year-old boy.

Among the cases recorded during the month was that of a 13-year-old girl being charged with the rape and sexual assault of a nine-year-old girl!

The statistic was part of data released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of formal indictments filed in the High Courts of Fiji by the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout November.

We learn that 23 people were charged with a total of 60 counts of sexual offences, including 36 counts of rape, one of attempted rape, three of abduction with intent to commit rape, one of assault with intent to commit rape, three of indecent assault, two of defilement and 14 of sexual assault.

Two of the 23 accused persons were juveniles and 24 victims were identified.

In 12 incidents, the victims and accused were related!

Four cases were withdrawn after Nolle Prosequi was filed because of false complaint, unreliable and insufficient evidence.

We also learn that a 66-year-old man was charged with the rape and sexual assault of his seven-yearold grandniece and a 47-year-old man was charged with four counts of rape and five representative counts of sexual assault of his 16-year-old daughter.

In another shocking incident, a 41-year-old man was charged with the rape of a five-year-old boy from his village.

The ODPP also stated a 45-year-old man was charged with the sexual assault of his 11-year-old niece.

Three incidents of marital rape were also recorded. A 30-year-old man was also charged with abduction of a teenager, 14, and a 30-year-old resort worker was also charged with the rape of an 18-year-old tourist.

The stats remind us about the harsh reality around us.

It reminds us of sex abuse, and raises the question of why this is happening to our young.

We will also wonder whether this is a reflection of a fragmented society.

Such stats are important for they clearly show us the extent to which sexual abuse and violence prevails around us.

Our challenge will always be to appreciate there are boundaries that should never be crossed. It is sad though that the stats remind us that in 12 incidents the victims and accused were related.

We should be asking ourselves what is happening? Why are our young subjected to such violence? And what are we doing about it?

We may question the family structure, values and the expectations of society. In saying that, we also must expect that we each have a very important role to play in fighting such stats.

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