JEDDAH, 21 July 2005 — Interior Minister Prince Naif has approved the founding of a committee to address the problem of women and child abuse in the Kingdom.
The decision to form the committee was issued two months ago by the Social Affairs Ministry, but the ministerial decision was only recently released. The first committee will be set up in Jeddah and run by Al-Bir Society.
“One of the reasons behind establishing the committee — the Social Committee for Child and Woman — is to involve the private sector in actively running the administration,” said Saleh Al-Turki of Al-Bir Society. “As a humanitarian society we have a first-hand experience in dealing with mistreated women and children.”
The committee will include members from Makkah Governorate, Social Affairs Ministry, police and health services. It will deal with all cases of abuse against women and children. Its main job is to protect children under the age of 18 and women by giving advice, solving their problems and, in urgent cases, providing a shelter to guarantee the victim’s safety.
“Today there is no clear way to deal with cases of abuse against women and children. The Saudi society has to admit there is a problem. After the committee’s formation things will be organized,” said Al-Turki.
He said there would be an awareness campaign led by the committee to educate citizens about their rights and inform them about the committee’s activities.
