Article 4 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
المادة 4 من نظام الحماية من الإيذاء
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تتولى الوزارة والشرطة تلقي البلاغات عن حالات الإيذاء، سواء كان ذلك ممن تعرض له مباشرة أو عن طريق الجهات الحكومية بما فيها الجهات الأمنية المختصة أو الصحية، أو الجهات الأهلية، أو ممن يطلع عليها.
2 - إذا تلقت الشرطة بلاغاً عن حالة إيذاء، فإن عليها اتخاذ ما يدخل ضمن اختصاصها من إجراءات، وإحالة البلاغ مباشرة إلى الوزارة.
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 4 explained in plain English
After Article 3 made reporting cases of abuse a duty, this article sets out who receives the report and how it is dealt with.
First: the two bodies that receive reports are the Ministry (the Ministry of Social Affairs) and the police. A report is accepted from any source, including:
- The person who directly suffered the abuse.
- Government bodies, including the competent security bodies or health bodies.
- Private bodies.
- Any person who learned of the case.
The person reporting need not be the victim or a relative of the victim.
Second: the role of the police if it receives a report: it must do two things, take the measures within its jurisdiction, and refer the report directly to the Ministry. This way all reports reach the Ministry to deal with them, even if they began with the police.
It is followed by Article 5, which protects the confidentiality of the reporter's identity. A person who needs advice on a particular case can consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A woman in Dammam is being beaten by her husband, so she calls the police and reports it herself. The police must take the measures within their jurisdiction and refer the report directly to the Ministry.
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 4 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
Where do I report a case of abuse?
The Ministry and the police receive reports of cases of abuse.
Can the victim report it herself?
Yes. Reports are accepted from the person who directly suffered the abuse, from government or private bodies, or from any person who learned of the case.
What does the police do if it receives an abuse report?
It takes the measures within its jurisdiction and refers the report directly to the Ministry.
More articles on Reporting Abuse
- Article 3
The 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.
1 - يجب على كل من يطلع على حالة إيذاء الإبلاغ عنها فوراً. 2 - مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة ذات العلاقة من إجراءات، يلتزم كل موظف عام - مدني أو عسكري - وكل عامل
- Article 5
The 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.
1- لا يجوز الإفصاح عن هوية المبلغ عن حالة إيذاء إلا برضاه ، أو في الحالات التي تحددها اللوائح التنفيذية. ويلتزم موظفو الوزارة وكل من يطلع - بحكم عمله - على معلو
- Article 6
The article exempts a good-faith reporter from liability if the case reported turns out not to be abuse under the Law.
يعفى المبلغ حَسَن النية من المسؤولية إذا تبين أن الحالة التي بلغ عنها ليست حالة إيذاء وفقاً لأحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 7Amended by M/72
The 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.
تباشر الوزارة فور تلقيها بلاغاً عن حالة إيذاء - بعد توثيق البلاغ وإجراء تقويم للحالة - باتخاذ أيٍّ من الإجراءات التالية: 1 - اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة التي تكفل ت
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.