Children and young people have the same human rights as adults and must be recognised as full rights holders. In addition to this child are entitled to additional rights due to their special needs and vulnerabilities to exploitation and abuse. In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood. It’s become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives around the world. The Convention recognizes the fundamental human dignity of all children and the urgency of ensuring their well-being and development. It makes clear the idea that a basic quality of life should be the right of all children, rather than a privilege enjoyed by a few.  It lays out the specific rights of children such as right to survival and development, right to be protected from violence and right to be heard on all matters affecting the child.

According to Population and Housing Census 2014, 33 percent of the population Children is children under the age of 18. Article 35 of the constitution of the Maldives states that “Children and young people are entitled to special protection and special assistance from the family, the community and the State. Children and young people shall not be harmed, sexually abused, or discriminated against in any manner and shall be free from unsuited social and economic exploitation. No person shall obtain undue benefit from their labour.”