Report domestic violence!

TDT | Manama

Teachers and doctors who fail to report domestic violence cases may face toughened punishments that include imprisonment and hefty fines, TDT has learnt. This was mentioned in a press statement issued by the Council of Representatives, announcing that a group of members have proposed toughened penalties against those who fail to report domestic violence cases.

According to the MPs, the proposal comes to amend the existing laws concerning domestic violence and within the efforts exerted to combat the increase in the numbers of such cases during the past few years. The new proposed amendment stipulates punishing individuals who are negligent or reluctant to report a case of domestic violence with a fine of not less than BD200 and not exceeding BD2,000.

It also calls for imprisonment for a period of no less than one year along with a fine of no less than BD1,000 and not exceeding BD2,000—or one of these two penalties—if the act of violence results in the death or permanent disability of the victims.

Submitting the proposal were Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia Zainal, Second Deputy Speaker Ali Zayed, Woman and Child Affairs Committee head Fatima Al Qatari, Human Rights Committee head Ammar Al Bannai, and Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee member Ghazi Al Rahma.

The lawmakers called for adding a new article to Law 17 of 2015 concerning the protection against domestic violence. The new article tightens the penalties for those who fail or are negligent in any crime that can be classified as a result of domestic violence, which came to their knowledge by virtue of their work, whether they were practising a medical or educational profession.

Commenting on the proposed amendment, Al Qatari said: “This amendment to the law comes to add a new article, in light of the absence of any penalty in the currently enforced law against the failure to implement this obligation imposed by Article 8 of the same law, which clearly states that every victim of domestic violence or any member of the family has the right to file a report on the incident of domestic violence.”

The Woman and Child Affairs Committee head added: “Anyone who becomes aware of an incident of domestic violence by virtue of his work—or his medical or educational profession—must inform the Public Prosecution or police stations of what he knows about the incident.

“The Family and Child Prosecution at the Public Prosecution is receiving many cases related to domestic violence, and the results are tragic. This motivates us to clamp down on these cases that require a lot of humane and compassionate treatment, especially if the act of abuse is committed against a child.”