Parliament approves family court in Kuwait

The National Assembly, at its follow-up session on Wednesday, approved a bill stipulating establishment of the family court, referring it to the Government.
A clarification memorandum, included in the legislative committee report, indicated at necessity of establishing the family court as a separate judicial entity, saying in part that personal status' affairs are incompatible with criminal and civil cases; that they should not be judged at a single chamber, also noting "sensitive nature" of some issues concerning parents and children.
The approved bill essentially calls for establishing a separate headquarters housing the family court, out of keenness on keeping youngsters separate from adults, involved in criminal issues, as well as for sake of shortening proceedings' duration.
Personal status circuits at the court are to be presided by a single judge. A circuit of appeal should group three judges.
Moreover, it stipulates establishing a center for settling family disputes, where judicial personnel will have direct contact with the parties of the dispute without attorneys' middle role. Furtheremore, a prosecution authority could be established, to be specialized in family affairs.
The bill third provision says the tribunal jurisdictions cover both Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, regardless of religious or sectarian affiliations.