Deliberations on family violence bill completed
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: The parliamentary Women and Family Affairs Committee on Monday finalized its deliberations on the Family Violence Bill in the presence of representatives from concerned public institutions such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Supreme Council for Women, and Society Police, says Committee Chairperson MP Safa’a Al-Hashem.
Al-Hashem disclosed the bill is based on nine proposals submitted by MPs on designating protectors who will provide psychological, legal and political protection to victims of family violence in various governorates; in addition to granting financial support through the establishment of a special fund for affected families. She said the bill consists of 26 articles on protection against family violence.
She added the main article in the bill stipulates protection for the informant – a neighbor, friend, employer or others who may have witnessed violent acts against a family member. She explained that if a person witnesses a family member or a child being subjected to violent acts like beating even inside a shopping mall or any public place, he should inform the concerned authority. Members of society police, concerned employees at the Ministry of Social Affairs and protectors assigned in the governorates will be given judicial arrest power to impose penalties on the assailant. The society police, relevant ministry employees and protectors will be designated in public places like parks and public utilities wearing plain clothes, not military or police uniform. Their job is to deal with cases of violent acts committed by a family member against another member like the wife or children. The bill, once approved, will be applied on both the citizens and expatriates, the lawmaker added.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee MP Khalid Al-Shatti issued a press statement commenting on the withdrawal of two committee members in protest against the decision to combine three draft laws on the general amnesty.
He affirmed the committee remains committed to the Constitution and Articles 99 and 100 of the National Assembly Decree. He said some people want to implement the decree and abide by the Constitution if such acts support their demands, but they do otherwise if such acts do not support their opinions. He pointed out that these people’s opinions change from time to time and from one parliamentary term to another according to the interests of their parties, not the welfare of the public.
Addressing those who opposed the committee’s decision to combine the three draft bills, Al-Shatti asserted that hurling accusations of betrayal and being mercenaries are not useful; stressing their action is a form of betrayal according to the point of view of a large part of the society.
He clarified that he submitted the draft law on amnesty for those convicted in the Abdally Cell case before the submission of the bill on amnesty for those convicted of storming the Assembly building. He cited Article 100 of the National Assembly decree stating that in case more than one bill on the same topic is submitted, the first bill is considered the main one while those submitted later are regarded as amendments.