Domestic violence cases in Kuwait drop 33% after new law

KUWAIT CITY, June 20: Minister of Justice Judge Nasser Al-Sumait revealed that the number of domestic violence cases registered at the Public Prosecution decreased by 33 percent during the first three months of implementing the new Domestic Violence Protection Law. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Sumait said the Ministry of Justice statistics on cases registered in the prosecution showed a decrease of 158, dropping from 486 cases within the same period last year to 328 in the first three months of the implementation of the new law. He indicated that the decrease in the number of registered cases is a vital indicator of the impact of the law in regulating case handling and balancing the protection of the family and prevention of the misuse of procedures. He added that the new law does not only regulate complaint procedures, but also opens the door to reconciliation in certain cases, taking into account the nature of family disputes, without compromising protection for the most serious cases.

He affirmed that the new law provides enhanced protection in several cases, in which waiving a complaint or reconciliation is not permitted. He disclosed that these cases include sexual abuse, violence committed by children against their parents, and violence against children or those lacking legal capacity. He pointed out that this underscores the seriousness of such acts and the necessity of addressing them legally. He then clarified that the decrease in the number of cases does not entail leniency in protecting victims, as it rather reflects the refinement of legal texts and procedures, directing legal protection to serious cases, while maintaining the highest level of protection for groups whose rights should not be compromised or waived.

He stressed that the ministry will continue to monitor the impact of the new law through statistics and indicators in the family protection program of the government, linking the legislation to the results in society. It can be recalled that the Cabinet approved the draft decree-law on protection from domestic violence on Feb 10 and it was published in the official gazette, ‘Kuwait Al- Youm’, in mid-March. The draft decree-law has 31 articles in line with the constitutional and social commitment of the country to uphold justice and dignity for all family members, stabilize the family as the fundamental unit of society, and create a safe environment that maintains family and societal stability.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff