Laws are meant to protect but to do so effectively, they must evolve with knowledge and evidence. One such area that demands careful re-examination is how the legal system understands adolescent behaviour, consent, and sexuality.

Recent research in neuroscience shows that adolescent brains are still developing, particularly in areas related to impulse control, judgment, and risk assessment.

Yet, legal frameworks often treat adolescents as fully mature decision-makers, without accounting for these developmental realities. This gap can lead to outcomes that are punitive rather than protective.

At Peace and Equality Cell, we believe that justice must be informed by science, empathy, and child-centric thinking.

Our research and advocacy explore how laws, especially those dealing with sexual offences involving adolescents, can be applied with greater sensitivity without diluting protection against abuse.

This does not mean weakening laws. It means applying them with context, understanding, and proportionality, ensuring that children and adolescents are protected, not criminalised unnecessarily.

Re-thinking law is not about changing its intent, it is about strengthening its impact.