Unreported cases of gender violence, rape and sexual assault are now surfacing as the result of more awareness according to a non-governmental organisation.

Medical Service Pacific Executive Chair Jennifer Poole says it’s taken years of hard work by relevant authorities, agencies and organizations to address the issue which remains a challenge.

“People are getting better informed, they know that there are services out there that they can call. They can call Medical services, they can call the welfare, the police and report any cases of child abuse or gender violence. When we are looking at cases that are coming through now in the court system. The cases that may have been from 2016 or 2017 as well as cases from 2018.”

Poole says cases of violence against women and children, child labor and other related offences can be reduced if information reaches all Fijians.

Meanwhile, the MSP has reached out to more than ten thousand Fijians providing counselling support since 2010.