UAE Cracking Down on Domestic Violence Perpetrators with Amended Law
A detailed new law to help protect those most vulnerable in the domestic sphere.
Before one raises one's hand or voice within a UAE household, one had better think twice. According to a new law printed in the government’s Official Gazette, those who are found guilty of inflicting psychological, physical, sexual or financial torment on a family member will be slapped with fines up to AED 50,000 and/or face considerable jail terms. The culpable parties will also incur penalties for violating restraining orders or for repeat offences. Failure by witnesses to enlighten the authorities and false reports of domestic violence could also attract penal action.
The prospective victims who may benefit from this Federal Decree-Law No 13 which came into effect on September 10, 2024, include - persons with disability, minors, senior citizens and pregnant women. The legal development has been lauded by prominent UAE litigant – Nikhat Sardar Khan who went on record to say, “Previous legal frameworks... were insufficient in addressing the complexities and severity of domestic violence cases.” Meanwhile, Nikhat’s colleague and family lawyer Samara Iqbal noted that the new law is “a significant step in enhancing legal protections for women.”
Here’s a list of related offences and the adjoining penalties:
1) Violation of a protection/restraining order stemming from domestic violence = AED 5,000 to 10,000 or jail term
2) Violation of the above with the use of physical force = AED 10,000 to 100,000 + 6 months in prison
3) Disclosure of sensitive information of a case through one’s work = AED 20,000
4) Revelation of a victim’s identity through one’s work = AED 20,000
5) Threatening or forcing a victim to withdraw their complaint = AED 10,000 to 50,000
The landmark new legislation not only provides recourse in the form of help from the concerned ministry, legal authorities and the police, but also from that of assigned social support centre. In addition, if any party who gets wind of instances of domestic abuse, such as a victim’s relative, a community member, a social worker, a psychologist, etc, they are legally obliged to report the same to the authorities. Hopefully, this intricate new law will help patch up crumbling homes and not shatter them.
