Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait said in statements to KUNA that domestic violence cases registered with the Public Prosecution fell by 36 percent in the first six months since the Domestic Violence Protection Law entered into force. The minister reported 646 cases between March 15 and September 13, 2026, a reduction of 365 from the 1,011 recorded in the same period of 2025. Al-Sumait attributed the decline to Decree-Law No. 11 of 2026, which prohibits waivers, reconciliation or pardons in certain domestic and sexual abuse cases. He added that the legislation strengthens protection for vulnerable family members across defined relationships.
Al-Sumait stressed that the drop does not mean the issue has been resolved. Every domestic violence case threatens family stability and requires serious attention, he noted. The minister said his ministry would continue to monitor indicators and assess the law’s impact. He described protecting the family as a shared national responsibility, adding that the legislation would evolve according to its effectiveness in reducing crime and promoting security and stability.
The positive trend first became evident after three months, when the minister reported a 33 percent decrease from 486 cases to 328 in an earlier briefing to KUNA. The Cabinet approved the 31-article decree-law on February 10, 2026 before its publication in the Official Gazette in mid-March. The statute applies to spouses in formal marriages, relatives up to the second degree, stepchildren and individuals in alternative custody settings.
Ministry of Justice statistics covering 2020 to the first quarter of 2025, as reported by Al-Qabas, documented 9,107 domestic violence cases filed with the Public Prosecution. Women represented the majority of the 9,543 victims identified during that span, with conviction rates averaging around 75 percent in cases that reached judgment. The figures underscored a doubling of cases in the two years leading up to the new law’s adoption, according to government sources cited in the review.
The law’s implementation has directed protection toward verified serious incidents while permitting reconciliation pathways in appropriate lower-level family disputes. This balanced approach seeks to prevent procedural misuse without diminishing safeguards for at-risk groups such as children and incapacitated persons. Al-Sumait indicated that ongoing evaluation would guide any future refinements to the framework.
