Article 5 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
المادة 5 من نظام الحماية من الإيذاء
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 معلومات عن حالات الإيذاء ؛ بالمحافظة على سرية ما يطلعون عليه من معلومات.
2 - يساءل تأديبياً - وفقاً للإجراءات المقررة نظاماً - كل موظف عام - مدني أو عسكري - وكل عامل في القطاع الأهلي، يخالف أياً من الأحكام المتعلقة بالإبلاغ عن حالات الإيذاء الواردة في هذا النظام.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article deals with two matters concerning reporting abuse:
First: confidentiality
- The identity of a person who reports a case of abuse may not be disclosed except in two cases: if the reporter consents, or in the cases the Implementing Regulations set out. The article does not list these cases but refers to the regulations for them.
- The Ministry's staff, and everyone who through work learns information about cases of abuse, must keep confidential what they learn.
The purpose of this is to encourage people to report without fear of being exposed to the abuser, and to protect victims' privacy.
Second: disciplinary accountability
Every public employee, civilian or military, and every private-sector worker who violates any of the reporting provisions in this Law is held accountable disciplinarily under the procedures established by law. These provisions include what Article 3 provides on the employee's and worker's duty to inform the body he works for of a case of abuse he learned of through work. The article does not specify the type of disciplinary penalty, but refers to the procedures established by law.
Article 6 then protects a reporter acting in good faith from liability if it turns out that the case is not abuse. A person who faces accountability or has been harmed by disclosure of his identity can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative or criminal cases.
Practical example
A neighbor in Mecca reports the violent treatment of a child in the house next door. The Ministry may not reveal the neighbor's name to the child's family except with his consent or in the cases the Implementing Regulations set out, and the staff who learned of the report must keep its information confidential.
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 5 of the Saudi Protection from Abuse Law
Will the abuser know who reported him?
The reporter's identity may not be disclosed except with his consent or in the cases the Implementing Regulations set out.
What is the penalty for an employee who does not comply with the abuse-reporting provisions?
He is held accountable disciplinarily under the procedures established by law, whether he is a civilian or military public employee or a private-sector worker.
Must the Ministry's staff keep abuse-case information confidential?
Yes. The Ministry's staff, and everyone who through work learns information about cases of abuse, must keep it confidential.
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 4
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.
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، أ
- 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.