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Government Laws

Child Law

The Child Law, 1993, promulgated by the State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No. 9/ 93, contains many provisions to protect children from exploitation, abuse, sale etc. Section 66 provides that whoever commits the following acts shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with a fine which may extend to 10, 000 kyats or with both: knowingly permitting a girl under his guardianship, who has not attained the age of 16, to earn a livelihood by prostitution; permitting a child under his guardianship to live or to consort with a person who earns a livelihood by prostitution; using a child in pornographic cinema, video, television or photography. Section 17 of the Child Law provides that every child shall have the right to be adopted in accordance with law, but the adoption shall be in the interests of the child. The adoptive parents shall be responsible for the care and custody of the child to ensure that there is no abduction to a foreign country, sale or trafficking, unlawful exploitation, unlawful employment, maltreatment, pernicious deeds or illegal acts.