President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has ratified the two children’s rights laws recently passed by the People’s Majlis.
Both the Child Protection Act and Juvenile Justice Act were signed into law on Wednesday, and the president’s Spokesperson Ibrahim Hood said that this “is particularly memorable as it is also the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.”
Following the ratification, the Juvenile Justice Act will establish the juvenile justice system separate from the criminal justice system, with a set of officials specialized in the juvenile justice system, encompassing a Juvenile Court established at Male' City and corresponding regional divisions. According to the new rights being granted, all children under the age of 15 are protected from being penalized under criminal law.
It will also create the Department of Juvenile Justice as a government entity with its own set mandate, under the jurisdiction of the pertinent Ministry. It also requires the establishment of juvenile detention centres within 18 months of ratification.
President’s Office submitted the bill to combat the urgent need for a judiciary system to completely protect the social and constitutional rights of children and describe the standards that must be met for those who are under the minimum age of social or criminal responsibility.
The Child Rights Protection Bill was sent to parliament in August, “due to glaring disparities” between the country’s child rights protection laws and International child protection laws and standards.
Following ratification, the legal age of consent for marriage will be raised to 18 years of age. Additionally, all children below the age of 15 are protected against all regular judicial punishments, including the death penalty, and prescribes a fast resolution to allow reforming juvenile delinquents into productive members of society through rehabilitative facilities.
It will also form the Child and Family Protection Services, a council for the protection of child rights with a mandate to protect children's rights and be the primary aid for any child in need of protection. The council will also serve as an advisory body to pertinent Ministers and assist in the creation of laws and policies related to child rights.
In addition, the Child Rights Protection Act will establish a Children's Ombudsman will also be elected to the Human Rights Commission with the task of impartially protecting child rights and freedoms, and to continuously monitor the application of all components of the law for all children.
In a tweet sent out on Wednesday, President Solih noted that "almost half of the world’s two billion children experience violence each year."
Noting that "more needs to be done to protect our children," the president said that he is "proud" to have ratified these key bills on the 30th anniversary of the Child Rights Convention.
