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The reduction of 365 cases between March 15 and September 13, 2026, stems from the impact of Decree-Law No. 11 of 2026, according to statements Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait made to the Kuwait News Agency. This legislation prohibits waivers, reconciliation or pardons in certain domestic and sexual abuse matters to bolster safeguards for vulnerable family members. Al-Sumait described the trend as evidence that the measure is influencing how such cases are handled within the judicial system.
The 31-article decree-law received Cabinet approval on February 10, 2026, before its publication in the Official Gazette in mid-March paved the way for enforcement. The decree-law defines domestic violence as any act, omission or threat that causes physical, psychological, sexual or financial harm within the family, and it establishes shelters for victims along with a dedicated care fund administered by the Supreme Council for the Family. Al-Sumait cautioned that the lower numbers do not indicate domestic violence has ceased to be a problem.
He noted that every such case still endangers family stability and requires ongoing attention from all segments of society. The Ministry of Justice intends to maintain close observation of relevant indicators to gauge the law’s longer-term results in reducing these offenses. An earlier statement by Al-Sumait in June 2026 had already documented a 33 percent drop during the law’s first three months, when cases decreased from 486 to 328.
These sequential updates point to a sustained shift following the introduction of stricter procedures for family-related complaints. Comparable reductions have appeared in other crime categories linked to the judicial reforms enacted in 2025 and 2026. Ministry of Justice statistics for the first half of 2026 showed assault cases falling 53 percent, from 607 to 284, as Al-Sumait detailed in an August statement.
Kidnapping cases registered with the Public Prosecution likewise declined 45.5 percent, from 99 to 54 over the same period. The legal amendments include the repeal of certain penal code articles that once permitted reduced sentences in defined situations involving family honor or illicit births. Data from the Public Prosecution remains central to future refinements in legal measures addressing these issues.
