President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that keeping children from vaccinations and school are not within the rights of parents.

The President made the statement in his annual address under Article 84 at the opening of the parliament.

In his address, President Solih said that keeping children without birth certification, vaccinations and schools are not rights reserved to parents even in the current Children’s Rights Act in effect and said that his administration is going to seek out such children and vaccinate them and arrange school for them.

He made the remarks in connection to a high number of children taken in by the state last year after reports of children without vaccinations.

And so, in a joint Police and MNDF operation in Raa Atoll Maduvari, authorities took a little girl from her family that refuses to vaccinate and give her an education.

The new Children’s Rights Act passed in November 2019 coming to effect on the 20 February, it is a responsibility on the parents to vaccinate their children and does not deserve the right not to do so.

The new law also demands the government to establish juvenile detention facilities as the law completely separates the judicial process for adults and children.