SUVA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The number of sexual offences against under-age girls has been growing in Fiji in recent years, reported Fijivillage news website on Tuesday.
At least two rape cases have recently emerged where the girls got pregnant. Three men allegedly raped an 11-year-old girl in Labasa Fiji's Northern Division earlier this year and she is now pregnant.
Also in July, a report was received from health authorities about a 14-year-old falling pregnant after she was raped.
According to Fijian police statistics, there is one rape case happening in the country every day. Statistics from May 2016 to April 2017 reveal that every month there are about 40 serious sexual offences.
In the first five months of 2017, there were 97 victims of rape, 57 were minors and 98 people have been charged for 217 serious sexual offences.
Figures in 2017 show the youngest victims were one-year old and a 23-month-old.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Pryde, said at a forum earlier in 2017 that a lot of these cases happened in rural or village communities.
According to Fiji's Crimes Act 2009, a man convicted of rape of an adult can be sentenced to anywhere between seven to 15 years.
Newly elected president of the Methodist Church in Fiji Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa said Tuesday he was already looking at ways to address the issue with members of the church.
