KUWAIT: Kuwait has officially abolished Article 153 of the Penal Code, which had stipulated reduced penalties for men who murder their wives, mothers, daughters, or sisters in case they catch them in the act of committing adultery, otherwise known as 'honor killing'. A decree abolishing the article was published in the national gazette 'Kuwait Al-Youm' Sunday.

Kuwait has also officially raised the minimum age of marriage for both men and women to 18; a step to promote equality and in line with international child protection laws. A new decree issued Sunday indicates that a marriage contract cannot be ratified if either the groom or the bride were less than 18 years of age. The decision is in line with Kuwait's constitution which guarantees "protection of the family, motherhood and childhood, in accordance with the Islamic sharia."

The new law is in line with international child protection laws which define a child as a person who is less than 18 years of age, and should be protected from child marriages. The law fulfills Kuwait's obligations towards international laws that promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women by guaranteeing equal rights of free choice, according to the law published in the national gazette 'Kuwait Al-Youm' Sunday.