Geneva Conventions I, II, III, IV 1949

       “1. The Government of the Republic of Maldives expresses its reservation to article 7 (a) of the Convention, to the extent that the provision contained in the said paragraph conflicts with the provision of article 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives.

       2. The Government of the Republic of Maldives reserves its right to apply article 16 of the Convention concerning the equality of men and women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations without prejudice to the provisions of the Islamic Sharia, which govern all marital and family relations of the 100 percent Muslim population of the Maldives."

       "1) Since the Islamic Shariah is one of the fundamental sources of Maldivian Law and since Islamic Shariah does not include the system of adoption among the ways and means for the protection and care of children contained in Shariah, the Government of the Republic of Maldives expresses its reservation with respect to all the clauses and provisions relating to adoption in the said Convention on the Rights of the Child.

       "2) The Government of the Republic of Maldives expresses its reservation to paragraph 1 of article 14 of the said Convention on the Rights of the Child, since the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic of Maldives stipulate that all Maldivians should be Muslims."

       Reservations to articles 14 and 21.

       "1.  The Minimum age at which the Maldives permits recruitment to its National Security Service and its Police Service is 18 years.

       2.  Any individual who wishes to enter the National Security Service and the Police Service has to apply for it in writing.

       3.  All applicants are required to present proof of birth date.

       4.  All applicants short listed for recruitment are carefully screened for medical fitness."