The Status of Domestic Violence Laws in the Arab Region.
| Existence of Domestic Violence Law | Detailed Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Partly | Domestic violence was criminalized by Law No. 15–19 of December 30, 2015 amending the Penal Code. Penalties for some Penal Code offenses involving spouses were increased. However, there is no law on domestic violence prevention measures, such as protection orders. |
| Bahrain | Yes | Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence, Law No. 17 of 2015. The Law does not specifically include marital rape. |
| Djibouti | No | Djibouti has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Egypt | No | There is no law on domestic violence. Some domestic violence offenses may be punishable under the Penal Code and Law No. 6 of 1998, but only if the act exceeds the accepted limits of discipline decided by the judge and if the injuries are apparent when filing the complaint at the police station. |
| Iraq | Partly | Women and girls in Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) are protected by the Law to Combat Domestic Violence in IKR, Law No. 8 of 2011. There is no federal domestic violence law. Article 41 of the Iraqi Penal Code of 1969 states that the punishment of a wife by her husband is the exercise of a legal right. |
| Jordan | Yes | Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, No. 15 of 2017. The law does not provide a definition of domestic violence crimes. |
| Lebanon | Yes | Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection of Women and other Family Members from Domestic Violence, Law No. 293 of 2014. The Law does not include marital rape. A Bill that proposes amendments to improve the Law has been drafted but is yet to be considered by Parliament. |
| Libya | No | Libya has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Morocco | Yes | Women and girls are protected by the Law on Combating all Forms of Violence against Women, Law No. 103–13. However, it does not include marital rape or provide a definition of domestic violence. |
| Oman | No | Oman has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Palestine | No | Palestine has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Qatar | No | Qatar has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Saudi Arabia | Yes | Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection from Abuse 2013. It creates criminal penalties for acts of domestic violence and establishes a process for people to lodge complaints and receive protection. The law does not include marital rape. |
| Somalia | No | Somalia has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Sudan | No | Sudan has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Syria | No | Syria has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Tunisia | Yes | Women and girls are protected by the Law on Eliminating Violence against Women, No. 58 of 2017. |
| Yemen | No | Yemen has no domestic violence legislation. |
| Existence of Domestic Violence Law | Detailed Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic violence was criminalized by Law No. 15–19 of December 30, 2015 amending the Penal Code. Penalties for some Penal Code offenses involving spouses were increased. However, there is no law on domestic violence prevention measures, such as protection orders. | ||
| Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence, Law No. 17 of 2015. The Law does not specifically include marital rape. | ||
| Djibouti has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| There is no law on domestic violence. Some domestic violence offenses may be punishable under the Penal Code and Law No. 6 of 1998, but only if the act exceeds the accepted limits of discipline decided by the judge and if the injuries are apparent when filing the complaint at the police station. | ||
| Women and girls in Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) are protected by the Law to Combat Domestic Violence in IKR, Law No. 8 of 2011. There is no federal domestic violence law. Article 41 of the Iraqi Penal Code of 1969 states that the punishment of a wife by her husband is the exercise of a legal right. | ||
| Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, No. 15 of 2017. The law does not provide a definition of domestic violence crimes. | ||
| Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection of Women and other Family Members from Domestic Violence, Law No. 293 of 2014. The Law does not include marital rape. A Bill that proposes amendments to improve the Law has been drafted but is yet to be considered by Parliament. | ||
| Libya has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Women and girls are protected by the Law on Combating all Forms of Violence against Women, Law No. 103–13. However, it does not include marital rape or provide a definition of domestic violence. | ||
| Oman has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Palestine has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Qatar has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Women and girls are protected by the Law on Protection from Abuse 2013. It creates criminal penalties for acts of domestic violence and establishes a process for people to lodge complaints and receive protection. The law does not include marital rape. | ||
| Somalia has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Sudan has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Syria has no domestic violence legislation. | ||
| Women and girls are protected by the Law on Eliminating Violence against Women, No. 58 of 2017. | ||
| Yemen has no domestic violence legislation. |
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