A total of 725 child abuse cases have been reported to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation to date.

Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa says cases of abuse and neglect are increasing.

Vuniwaqa adds the reported number of cases to police on child abuse is even higher.

From January to October, police received 1041 reports of child abuse cases, a 0.1 percent decline compared to the same period last year.