Article 1 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
المادة 1 من نظام الحماية من الإيذاء
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية - أينما وردت في هذا النظام - المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك :
- الوزارة: وزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية .
- الوزير: وزير الشؤون الاجتماعية.
- النظام : نظام الحماية من الإيذاء .
- اللائحة : اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
- الإيذاء : هو كل شكل من أشكال الاستغلال، أو إساءة المعاملة الجسدية أو النفسية أو الجنسية، أو التهديد به، يرتكبه شخص تجاه شخص آخر، متجاوزاً بذلك حدود ما له من ولاية عليه أو سلطة أو مسؤولية أو بسبب ما يربطهما من علاقة أسرية أو علاقة إعالة أو كفالة أو وصاية أو تبعية معيشية. ويدخل في إساءة المعاملة امتناع شخص أو تقصيره في الوفاء بواجباته أو التزاماته في توفير الحاجات الأساسية لشخص آخر من أفراد أسرته أو ممن يترتب عليه شرعاً أو نظاماً توفير تلك الحاجات لهم.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 1 explained in plain English
This is the definitions article, setting the meaning of the words used in the rest of the Law's articles. The Ministry is the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Minister is its minister, and the Regulations are the Implementing Regulations of this Law.
The most important definition in it is abuse, which has two elements:
- The act: every form of exploitation, or physical, psychological or sexual mistreatment, or even a threat of it.
- The relationship between the two parties: that it is committed by one person against another, exceeding the limits of any guardianship, authority or responsibility he has over the other, or because of a relationship between them: family, support, sponsorship, guardianship, or dependence for living.
So the Law does not cover every assault between any two people, but abuse that occurs within these relationships or by exceeding those powers.
The definition widens the meaning of mistreatment to include omission or failure: if a person refuses or fails to provide the basic needs of a member of his family, or of someone he is obliged under Sharia or law to provide for, that counts as mistreatment even if no direct assault occurs.
This definition links to Article 2, which sets out the Law's objectives, including ensuring protection from abuse of its various kinds. A person who wants to know whether a particular situation falls within this definition would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status or criminal cases.
Practical example
A father in Jeddah refuses to provide food and medical treatment for his children who live with him, despite being able to. This failure to provide the basic needs of the members of his family falls within the meaning of mistreatment as the article defines it, so it is a form of abuse even if he does not hit them.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
Does psychological abuse fall under the Protection from Abuse Law?
Yes, the definition includes psychological mistreatment alongside physical and sexual mistreatment, and threats of them.
Is neglect or failure to provide maintenance considered abuse?
Yes, mistreatment includes a person's refusal or failure to provide the basic needs of members of his family or of those he is obliged under Sharia or law to provide for.
Does the Law cover domestic workers or those under sponsorship?
The definition covers abuse that occurs because of a relationship of support, sponsorship, guardianship or dependence for living, not only a family relationship.
More articles on Definition of Abuse and Objectives of the Law
- Article 2
The 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.
يهدف هذا النظام إلى الآتي: 1 - ضمان توفير الحماية من الإيذاء بمختلف أنواعه. 2 - تقديم المساعدة والمعالجة، والعمل على توفير الإيواء والرعاية الاجتماعية والنفسية
- Article 14
The 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.
لا تؤثر الأحكام والإجراءات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام على الالتزامات المترتبة على الجهات المعنية الأخرى، كل بحسب اختصاصه، ولا تخل هذه الأحكام والإجراءات بأي حق
- Article 16
The 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.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة خلال تسعين يوماً من تاريخ نشر النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ سريانه.
- Article 17
The article provides that the Protection from Abuse Law takes effect ninety days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
يسري هذا النظام بعد تسعين يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.