Kuwait's Justice Minister hails law reform milestone

Kuwait's Justice Minister Nasser Al-Sumait has announced the successful completion of the second phase of the National Plan to Modernize the Legislative System. This significant milestone was achieved approximately six months earlier than anticipated.

The second phase encompassed a comprehensive review, issuance, amendment, and repeal of 250 laws. These actions represent roughly 25 percent of all legislation currently in effect within Kuwait. The ongoing modernization effort aims to streamline and update the country's legal framework.

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Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait announced the completion of the second phase of the National Plan to Modernize the Legislative System, approximately six months ahead of schedule.

Minister Al-Sumait detailed that this phase included issuing 24 new laws, amending 56 existing ones, and repealing 9 laws. Additionally, 161 laws, decrees, and approvals related to international agreements and memoranda of understanding were processed. These accomplishments were the result of collaborative efforts involving various governmental, judicial, and legal bodies.

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This phase included the review, issuance, amendment, and repeal of 250 laws, representing about 25 percent of all laws currently in force in Kuwait.

The third phase of the modernization plan is set to review and update an additional 400 laws by December 2027. This future phase will focus on legislation directly impacting economic, criminal, and social aspects, including amendments to the Penal Code, Criminal Procedures and Trials Law, and laws concerning family, children, real estate registration, and the private sector labor law.

These legislative reforms appear to be yielding tangible results. The total number of cases before the courts has dropped from 534,226 to 422,713, marking a decrease of 20.88 percent. Cases before the Court of Cassation saw a reduction of 45.31 percent, while criminal cases before the Court of First Instance fell by 27 percent. Specific amendments, such as raising the minimum appeal amount in civil and commercial cases and modifying the payment order system, have also contributed to a notable decrease in specific types of appeals.

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The total number of cases before the courts decreased from 534,226 to 422,713, a decline of 20.88 percent.