Global Progress Towards Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children
A global problem requires truly global solutions to address the sexual exploitation of children.
Indicators
Age of Consent
No
The age of sexual consent is 18 years, for both girls and boys, but can be done earlier through the exception of marriage. The national legislation does not provide for a close-in-age exception.
Analysis of country legislation on age of sexual consent, 2024
Extraterritoriality & Extradition
Partial
Active extraterritoriality is recognized for all SEC related offences committed by Maldivian citizens and residents abroad under Section 13(a)(3) of the Penal Code. Passive extraterritoriality is recognised for any offence committed against a Maldivian citizen under Section 13(a)(2). Active and passive extraterritoriality is provided for human trafficking offences under Section 67(b)1 and 2 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2013 (Act No. 12/2013), including only Maldivian citizens not residents). Double criminality is not required for active and passive extraterritoriality under Section 13 of the Penal Code and Section 67 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act.
Regulation on extradition (Extradition Act 2015) has not been found, therefore it is unknown whether SEC related offences are extraditable and whether double criminality applies in extradition cases.
Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014,
Anti-Human Trafficking Act, 2013 (Act No. 12/2013),
"The Law on Extradition (Act No. 1/2015, Extradition Act), 2014, 2013, 2015
CSAM Definition
Not Yet Assessed
Background Check Required
Not Yet Assessed
National Commitments
Not Yet Assessed
Child Advocacy Centers
Not Yet Assessed
SEC Police Unit
Not Yet Assessed
Protection Standards Travel and Tourism
Not Yet Assessed
Public SEC Case Data
Not Yet Assessed
Age of Consent Law is Appropriate
The age of sexual consent for both males and females is 18 and a close in age exemption (up to 3 years) is provided for consensual sexual relationships between adolescents.
The age of sexual consent is the legally defined age at which a person is considered mature enough to agree to sexual activity. The age of sexual consent varies across jurisdictions around the world and there is no international legal instrument establishing it, however various forms of advocacy have encouraged States to establish a minimum age under which engaging in sexual contact is considered a criminal offence. This is intended to prevent sexual contact with children and to prevent argument that the child consented as a defence.
Often national provisions related to the age of sexual consent include an exception, known as a close-in-age exemption, making consensual sexual activities between young people lawful if the partners are of similar ages and the age difference is not higher than a certain number of years.
To ensure that cases of child sexual exploitation do not go unpunished, ECPAT advocates for the age of sexual consent to be set at 18 for both males and females with a close-in-age exemption of 2-3 years provided in order to ensure young people are not penalised for consensual sexual acts with peers. The age from which the exemption applies should be established by States but may begin for young people somewhere between 12 and 16 years of age.
Yes The national legislation explicitly indicates that the age of sexual consent unequivocally is 18 for both males and females, with a close-in-age exemption for sexual acts between peers (of up to 3 years) is provided by law.