In force Last amended 6/8/1443 AH
Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
نظام الحماية من الإيذاء
The law defines its terms and objectives and covers the duty to report abuse, the bodies that receive reports, when a reporter's identity may be disclosed, the good-faith reporter, the role of the Ministry in handling reports, and penalties.
- Articles
- 17
- In force
- 17
- Amended
- 3
- Issued
- 15/11/1434 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم (م/52) بتاريخ 1434/11/15
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Protection from Abuse Law by topic
Articles of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
- Article 1The article defines the Law's key terms, chiefly "abuse", which covers exploitation, physical, psychological or sexual mistreatment and threats of it, and failure to provide basic needs.
- Article 2The article sets the Protection from Abuse Law's objectives: protection, assistance, shelter and care, holding the abuser accountable, awareness, addressing conditions that foster abuse, and creating mechanisms to deal with it.
- Article 3The article obliges anyone who learns of a case of abuse to report it at once, and requires public employees and private-sector workers to inform their employer so that it notifies the Ministry or the police.
- Article 4The article provides that the Ministry and the police receive abuse reports from the victim, government or private bodies, or anyone aware of the case, and requires the police to refer what they receive to the Ministry.
- Article 5The article bars disclosing a reporter's identity except with his consent or in cases set by the regulations, binds those with access to confidentiality, and imposes disciplinary accountability on employees and workers who breach the reporting provisions.
- Article 6The article exempts a good-faith reporter from liability if the case reported turns out not to be abuse under the Law.
- Article 7The article sets the steps the Ministry takes on receiving an abuse report, after documenting it and assessing the case, from health care and preventing repetition to enabling the victim to recover documents and belongings.Amended M/72
- Article 8The article requires the Ministry, in cases dangerous to the victim's life, safety or health, to take the necessary measures, including notifying the competent authorities and moving the victim or the abuser to shelter.
- Article 9The article permits the Ministry to call on the security authorities where an abuse case needs urgent intervention or entry to the place of the incident, and requires those authorities to respond at once.
- Article 10The article requires the Ministry to take into account the degree, type and frequency of violence, avoid treatment that harms the victim or her family or living situation, and give priority to guidance and prevention unless the case requires otherwise.
- Article 11The article requires the Ministry, if it considers that an incident of abuse constitutes a crime, to notify the competent arresting authority so that it takes the necessary legal measures.
- Article 12The article requires the Ministry to follow abuse cases it refers to the arresting authority, and that authority to keep it informed, and allows follow-up of cases after judgment for no less than 6 months.Amended M/72
- Article 13The article sets the penalty for abuse at imprisonment of one month to one year and a fine of SAR 5,000 to SAR 50,000, increases it in specified cases, and doubles it for repeat offenders.Amended M/72
- Article 14The article provides that the Law's provisions do not affect the obligations of other relevant bodies, and do not prejudice any better protection provided by another law or an international convention to which the Kingdom is a party.
- Article 15The article obliges the Ministry, with the relevant bodies, to take preventive measures against abuse, including awareness, statistics, training, family guidance and support for research.
- Article 16The article requires the Minister to issue the Implementing Regulations within ninety days of the Law's publication in the Official Gazette, to take effect from the date the Law takes effect.
- Article 17The article provides that the Protection from Abuse Law takes effect ninety days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
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