Reports of sexual violence against children around the country continues to increase.

Save the Children Fiji Chief Executive, Iris Low-McKenzie says statistics show that many of these children are being sexually abused by close family members they respect and trust.

“Incidents of violence against children is increasing and that’s because children are actually courageous enough to report it and a lot of the perpetrators are family members, people that children respect or people that children turn to for guidance and support and these are the very people that are turning against our children. And it’s good that we’re empowering children to report because it’s the right thing to do even if it’s a close family member, they need to tell someone that something’s happened to them."_

Low-McKenzie says they’re working together with the Department of Social Welfare to roll out a positive discipline training for parents.

They’re also focusing on strengthening their child protection program.

Low-McKenzie was speaking at the signing of a partnership with Telecom Fiji on a charity Ambrose golf tournament in Suva this morning.