SUVA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Over 700 cases related to child abuse were recorded by Fiji's Social Welfare's Child Services Department in 2018 and the department has recorded nine cases so far this year.
Fiji's Social Welfare Department Assistant Director Ela Tukutukulevu said on Thursday that these cases include child negligence, sexual abuse of children, physical abuse, child labor, teenage pregnancy, and other cases.
Child negligence topped the list with 226 cases followed by 149 physical abuse cases and 130 sexual abuse cases respectively.
"We have been receiving cases mostly from the hospitals ... What we do is we refer to the various welfare officers in the areas and welfare officers are the ones that go down to the ground and investigate, talk to parents and try to encourage them on the care of children," Tukutukulevu said.
Tukutukulevu said the department made relevant referrals to counsellors, police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety of children.
