Law of Protection from Abuse 2013

Brief Description

The Law on Protection from Abuse was enacted in order to strengthen the legal framework to eliminate violence against women. Also, the implementing regulations and related executive measures in relations to the Law were approved. The Law has included provisions aimed at addressing the behavioral phenomena in society that foretell an abusive environment, and at mandating the immediate reporting of cases of abuse. It requires every civil or military public servant and private sector worker to immediately report cases of abuse to their employer, who in turn must inform the competent authorities or the police. The Law also stressed that the identity of the informer may not be disclosed without their consent, or in cases identified by the implementing regulations, which were issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development by way of Decision No. 43047, dated 08/05/1435 H (corresponding to 10/03/2014), which also encompassed several implementing mechanisms for the provisions of the Law. The implementing regulations were amended by Decision No. 76048, dated 20/04/1440 H (corresponding to 27/12/2018), by the Minister of Labour and Social Development. The amendment includes a number of executive mechanisms for the provisions of the Law and the role of the concerned bodies in the implementation of provisions for the protection against abuse and the relevant punishments. The mechanisms are as follows: 
(a) Every public or private body shall inform the Ministry of Labour and Social Development or the police of any cases of abuse it encounters immediately upon detecting or receiving notice of same; and
(b) A center shall be established for receiving reports of cases of abuse.