When Does Childhood End? Rethinking the Age of 18 in the Maldives
“When Does Childhood End? Rethinking the Age of 18 in the Maldives” Edward Addai edwardaddai64@gmail.com Introduction – Why This Question Matters When does a child stop being a child? The answer seems obvious, at 18 years. Yet, around the world, and in the Maldives, the lines are blurring. A 16-year-old may be deemed responsible enough to face trial in a criminal court, but not old enough to vote or smoke. A 15-year-old girl may be pressured into marriage under religious interpretation, even though statutory law says otherwise. These contradictions raise a profound question: if the law does not speak with one voice, who protects the child? This paper explores why a legal definition of childhood matters , why the global consensus has settled on 18 years , why certain thresholds continue to be set lower, and what the Maldives and other countries should do to reconcile these tensions. Why Define a Child at All? – The Power of Legal Clarity Imagine a 15 year old young boy...