In force Last amended 6/8/1443 AH
Saudi Child Protection Law
نظام حماية الطفل
The Child Protection Law covers definitions, objectives and cases of abuse and neglect, the child's right to protection, prohibitions related to child protection, the child's right to care and responsibility toward the child, and reporting.
- Articles
- 26
- In force
- 26
- Amended
- 4
- Issued
- 3/2/1436 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم (م/14) بتاريخ 3 / 2 / 1436
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Child Protection Law by topic
Definition of a Child and the Law's Objectives5 articlesChild Abuse and Neglect2 articlesChild at Risk of Delinquency3 articlesChild Rights and Alternative Care5 articlesChild Labor and Exploitation5 articlesProtecting Children from Smoking and Harmful Content3 articlesParental Responsibility and Custody1 articlePrevention and Rehabilitation of Children3 articlesReporting Child Abuse2 articlesPenalty for Child Abuse2 articles
Articles of the Saudi Child Protection Law
الفصل الأول: التعريفات والأهداف وحالات الإيذاء والإهمالArticles 1–4
- Article 1The article defines the Law's key terms: child, abuse in its forms, neglect, the Implementing Regulations and the relevant authorities.
- Article 2The article sets out the aims of the Child Protection Law: affirming the child's rights under Sharia and law, protecting him from abuse and neglect in every environment, ensuring his care, and spreading awareness of his rights.
- Article 3The article lists the situations that count as abuse or neglect of a child, from leaving him without family support and withholding his documents to mistreating and exploiting him and anything that threatens his safety.
- Article 4The article lists the situations in which a child is considered at risk of delinquency, such as begging, habitually running away from home, and frequenting suspicious places or being involved with drugs or gambling.
الفصل الثاني: حق الطفل في الحمايةArticles 5–7
- Article 5The article provides that the child has priority in enjoying protection, care and relief in all circumstances.
- Article 6The article provides the child's right to protection from all forms of abuse or neglect.
- Article 7The article gives a child who lacks a suitable family environment the right to alternative care through a foster family, or social care institutions if no family is available.
الفصل الثالث: المحظورات المتصلة بحماية الطفلArticles 8–14
- Article 8The article prohibits employing a child before the age of fifteen, assigning a child work that harms safety or health, and using a child in military work or armed conflicts.
- Article 9The article prohibits sexually exploiting a child or exposing a child to forms of sexual exploitation, and also prohibits trafficking in a child for crime or begging.
- Article 10The article prohibits using a child in places where narcotic substances or psychotropic substances are produced or traded in any form.
- Article 11The article prohibits selling tobacco and harmful substances to a child or using a child to buy, sell or advertise them, selling toys and sweets shaped like cigarettes, and smoking in a child's presence.
- Article 12The article prohibits producing, publishing, displaying, trading in or possessing any work directed at a child that arouses the child's instincts in a way contrary to Sharia, public order or morals, or encourages the child toward delinquency.Amended M/72
- Article 13The article prohibits the child's participation in races and sports or entertainment activities that endanger the child's safety or health.
- Article 14The article prohibits any medical intervention or procedure on a fetus except for a medical interest or necessity, without prejudice to what other laws provide.
الفصل الرابع: حق الطفل في الرعاية والمسؤولية تجاههArticles 15–21
- Article 15The article makes the parents or whoever cares for the child responsible for the child's upbringing and protection within their capabilities, guarantees visitation rights on separation, and gives the mother the right to custody unless a court judgment provides otherwise.Amended M/72
- Article 16The article requires all authorities to take the child's interest into account and expedite procedures concerning the child, and to consider the child's mental, psychological, physical, upbringing and educational needs.
- Article 17The article requires the relevant authorities to take appropriate care and rehabilitation measures promptly if the child is in an environment that exposes the child's safety to the risk of delinquency.
- Article 18The article requires the relevant authorities to take appropriate measures for health and child-rights awareness, support school health, ensure the child's education, protect against disease, accidents and pollution, and relieve the suffering of children in difficult circumstances.
- Article 19The article requires programs to rehabilitate a child who has suffered abuse or neglect, and directs the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, to provide treatment or rehabilitation for the person who committed the abuse when needed.Amended M/72
- Article 20The article requires the relevant authorities to set comprehensive quality standards for local and imported children's toys that conform to health, environmental and cultural specifications, safety measures and Sharia rules.
- Article 21The article provides that the Child Protection Law does not prejudice the obligations of other authorities or any provision guaranteeing better protection for the child in another law or an international agreement.
الفصل الخامس: الإبلاغ والنظر في مخالفة النظام ولائحته ووقت العمل بهArticles 22–25
- Article 22The article requires anyone who learns of a case of abuse or neglect to report it to the competent authorities immediately, requires the authorities to facilitate reporting, especially by the child, and refers its procedures to the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 23The article assigns investigating violations of the Child Protection Law and bringing the case to the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority, hearing and penalty to the competent court, and follow-up to the Ministry of Human Resources.Amended M/72
- Article 23 bisThe article punishes the crime of abusing a child with imprisonment of up to two years and/or a fine of up to SAR 100,000, increases it in specific cases, doubles it for repeat offenses, and punishes the instigator, the person who agrees and the person who assists.
- Article 24The article tasks the Minister of Social Affairs with issuing the Implementing Regulations within 90 days of the Law's publication, in coordination with the concerned authorities, and they take effect from the date the Law takes effect.
- Article 25The article provides that the Child Protection Law takes effect 90 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
A question about the Saudi Child Protection Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Need a lawyer who knows the Saudi Child Protection Law?
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law, free and with no commitment.