Majority of sex offenders are related to victims

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Updated: 9:05am – The number of offenders who are related to victims of sexual offences has almost doubled this year compared to last year.

Fiji Police Force, Deputy Commissioner, Isikeli Sauliga says from January to August last year, fifty-four of the offenders were either related or known to the victim.

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However, this year saw an increase, with ninety-four of the perpetrators being related or known to the victims.

“The pertinent question we continue to ask is what makes a grandfather, father, and uncle or brother lust after their own flesh and blood. We are not laying the blame entirely on the family structure as we do have cases whereby offenders are complete strangers however it is due to the commission of the crime by immediate family members that we are worried.”

Sauliga also highlighted many a times the focus lies on the perpetrators and not on the victims.

Therefore, he stress the importance of doing more to assist the victims with coping mechanisms.

“Not only do they have to face being judged by other family members and the community, they have to live with the stigma of being a victim their entire life and that is an enormous burden to shoulder.”

Over nine hundred and sixty sexual offence cases have been recorded by the Police from January to August this year.

-FBC

Featured Image: Fiji Police Force, Deputy Commissioner, Isikeli Sauliga

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