Minister of Justice: 36% drop in domestic violence cases over six months

Kuwait City, September 26 (KUNA) -- Justice Minister and Legal Advisor Nasser Al-Sameet confirmed on Saturday the continued decline in domestic violence cases registered with the Public Prosecution, noting that the reduction rate reached 36 percent during the first six months of implementing the Law for the Protection from Domestic Violence.

In an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Sameet explained that statistics from the Ministry of Justice showed a decrease of 365 cases, dropping to 646 cases between March 15 and September 13, 2026, compared to 1,011 cases during the same period in 2025.

He pointed out that the ministry had previously announced a 33 percent decline in cases after the first three months of the law’s implementation, which then rose to a 36 percent reduction after six months. This confirms the sustained downward trend and indicates that the decline is not limited to the initial months.

Al-Sameet added that this decrease is a clear indicator of the impact of Decree-Law No. 11 of 2026 concerning the Protection from Domestic Violence, which provides special protection for categories most vulnerable to abuse within the family. This protection includes the prohibition of waiving complaints, reaching settlements, or granting pardons in cases of sexual abuse and domestic violence crimes committed against children, or those lacking or having diminished legal capacity, as well as crimes committed by children against one of their parents.

He clarified that the decline in cases does not mean that efforts have reached their goal, as every case of domestic violence affects family security and stability and requires serious handling. He emphasized the continued commitment of the Ministry of Justice to monitor indicators and periodically measure the impact of legislation.

The Justice Minister stressed that protecting the family is a shared national responsibility, and that legislative development will remain linked to actual outcomes and the ability to protect community members, curb crime, and reinforce feelings of security and stability.

Earlier, on June 20, the Justice Minister confirmed that domestic violence cases registered with the Public Prosecution had decreased by 33 percent during the first three months of implementing the new Domestic Violence Protection Law.

It is worth noting that the Cabinet approved the draft decree-law concerning the Protection from Domestic Violence on February 10, which was published in the official gazette, *Kuwait Al-Yawm*, in mid-March.

The draft decree-law, comprising 31 articles, comes within the framework of the state’s constitutional and social commitment to protecting the family unit and enhancing its stability as the fundamental building block of society, ensuring justice and dignity for all family members and providing a safe environment that contributes to consolidating family and societal stability. (End) N.S. / T.M.A.