Domestic violence cases in Kuwait drop 36 percent as new protection law takes effect
- Statistics showed 646 domestic violence cases were registered between March 15 and September 13, 2026, compared with 1,011 cases during the same period in 2025
Domestic violence cases registered with Kuwait’s Public Prosecution fell by 36 percent during the first six months of implementing the country’s new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait said Saturday.
Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Sumait said Ministry of Justice statistics showed that 646 domestic violence cases were registered between March 15 and September 13, 2026, compared with 1,011 cases during the same period in 2025, a decrease of 365 cases.
The decline has continued since the law came into effect. After its first three months, the Ministry of Justice reported a 33 percent reduction in registered cases. The decline reached 36 percent after six months, indicating that the downward trend has continued beyond the law’s initial months of implementation.
Al-Sumait attributed the decline to the impact of Decree Law No. 11 of 2026 on Protection from Domestic Violence, which provides special protection for vulnerable members of the family. Under the law, complaints cannot be waived, reconciled or pardoned in cases involving sexual abuse and domestic violence committed against children, persons lacking or having diminished legal capacity, as well as crimes committed by children against one of their parents.
The minister stressed, however, that the decline in reported cases does not mean efforts to address domestic violence have reached their goal. Every domestic violence case affects family security and stability and requires serious attention, he said.
The Ministry of Justice will continue monitoring indicators and periodically assessing the impact of legislation and its effectiveness, Al-Sumait added.
He stressed that protecting the family is a shared national responsibility, while the development of legislation will remain linked to its practical results and its ability to protect members of society, reduce crime and strengthen a sense of security and stability.
Al-Sumait had previously announced on June 20 that domestic violence cases registered with the Public Prosecution had fallen by 33 percent during the first three months of implementing the new law. The Cabinet approved the draft decree-law on protection from domestic violence on February 10, and it was published in the official gazette, Kuwait Alyawm, in mid-March.
The legislation contains 31 articles and forms part of Kuwait’s constitutional and social commitment to protecting the family and strengthening its stability as the basic building block of society, while ensuring justice and dignity for family members and providing a safe environment that supports family and social stability.
