Article 13 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 13 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
The article requires the program administration, in coordination with relevant bodies, to protect the protected person from injury and ensure their health, safety and social adaptation, while respecting their rights and freedoms.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على إدارة البرنامج -بالتنسيق مع الجهات المعنية- اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لوقاية المشمول بالحماية من الإصابة الجسدية، وضمان صحته وسلامته وتكيّفه الاجتماعي، طوال فترة الحماية المقررة له، مع مراعاة حقوقه وحرياته، وعدم تقييدها إلا بالقيود الضرورية وفقاً لأحكام 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 13 explained in plain English
This article places a general duty on the program administration throughout the protection period set for the protected person: to take, in coordination with the relevant bodies, the measures necessary to achieve the following:
- protecting them from physical injury;
- ensuring their health and safety;
- ensuring their social adaptation.
In return, the article sets an important limit: the rights and freedoms of the protected person must be respected and restricted only by necessary restrictions in accordance with the provisions of the Law. Every restriction imposed on a protected person must therefore be necessary and based on the provisions of the Law.
The phrase "throughout the protection period set for them" means this duty is not limited to the start of protection; it continues as long as protection is in place.
This article is linked to Article 12, which establishes a Security Department in each of the Ministry of Interior and the Presidency of State Security to apply protection or security escort for protected persons, and to Article 14, which lists the types of protection a protected person may receive, in whole or in part, such as security protection, change of residence, legal, psychological and social guidance, and financial assistance if being covered by protection disrupts their ability to earn a living.
Practical example
A protected witness is relocated from Dammam to another city as part of his protection measures. The program administration must coordinate with the relevant bodies to ensure his health and safety and help him adapt socially in his new place, without restricting his rights and freedoms except by restrictions necessary under the Law.
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 13 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Does protection restrict a witness's freedom?
The article requires the program administration to respect the protected person's rights and freedoms and not to restrict them except by necessary restrictions in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
What is the protection program's responsibility for a witness's health?
The program administration, in coordination with the relevant bodies, must take the necessary measures to protect them from physical injury and to ensure their health, safety and social adaptation throughout the protection period.
More articles on Whistleblower and Witness Protection Program
- Article 1
Defines the Law's key terms, including whistleblower, witness, expert, victim, protection, covered crimes, the program and the person covered by protection.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها: النظام: نظام حماية المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا. اللائحة: اللائح
- Article 4
Establishes in the Public Prosecution a special program for protecting whistleblowers, witnesses, experts and victims, and refers its structure, administration, tasks and funding mechanism to the Regulations.
يُنشأ وفق أحكام النظام برنامج خاص في النيابة العامة يسمى "برنامج حماية المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا"، وتحدد اللائحة الهيكل التنظيمي للبرنامج وإدارته ومه
- Article 5
Gives the program administration, by its decision and under the Law, the power to accept whistleblowers, witnesses, experts and victims into the program and to determine the type and duration of protection.
لإدارة البرنامج بقرار منها -وفقاً لأحكام النظام- صلاحية قبول المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا في البرنامج وتحديد نوع الحماية المقدم لهم ومدته.
- Article 6
Allows the Public Prosecutor, on the program administration's recommendation and on reciprocity, to approve foreign authorities' requests to protect a whistleblower, witness, expert or victim in the Kingdom.
للنائب العام -بناء على توصية من إدارة البرنامج ووفقاً لمبدأ المعاملة بالمثل- الموافقة على طلبات السلطات الأجنبية المختصة التي تتلقاها اللجنة الدائمة لطلبات المس
- Article 8
The article allows the Attorney General to provide protection without consent, for no more than 30 days and extendable, to a person believed to face imminent danger, and to delegate some powers.
يجوز للنائب العام في حال توفر ما يبعث على الاعتقاد بإمكان تعرّض المبلِّغ أو الشاهد أو الخبير أو الضحية لخطر وشيك، توفير الحماية له دون موافقته، لمدة لا تزيد على
- Article 12
The article establishes a Security Department in each of the Ministry of Interior and the Presidency of State Security to apply protection or security escort for protected persons, leaving its tasks to the Implementing Regulations.
تنشأ وفق أحكام النظام إدارة أمنية في كل من: (وزارة الداخلية، ورئاسة أمن الدولة) يوكل إليها تطبيق الحماية أو المرافقة الأمنية للمشمولين بالحماية كلٌ فيما يخصه، و
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.