Dhiddhoo Council in HA. Atoll has expressed concern over children wandering outside alone at night on the island.

In an announcement issued by the council last Thursday, it stated that since the well-being of families and the role of future generations are important in nation-building, it is an important civic responsibility to emphasize protecting the physical, psychological, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of today's children in order to properly nurture those generations.

However, the announcement noted that children under the age of 18 are observed wandering around the island at night after 9:00 PM without a guardian and without any purpose.

As this can cause negative social impacts and lead to numerous moral issues, Dhiddhoo Council has requested that civil societies, technical training, and educational centers also pay attention to these matters when organizing activities involving children under the age of 18.

"We urge parents to ensure and monitor that children under the age of 18 do not roam around the island after 9:00 PM without a parent or guardian, unless there is an important need." the announcement stated.

Under the regulations for maintaining the moral standards of school students, students being outside after 10:00 PM without the guardian's permission is prohibited.

Furthermore, under the Child Rights Protection Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from being out on the streets at night without a guardian, and such cases are handled by the police.