The Riyadh Forensic Medicine Center has set up a clinic specifically for collecting physical evidence of rape — and it’s not a moment too soon. Evidence of sexual abuse has been lost because of the lack of a regime for collecting such evidence.

No doubt, the presence of a rapist or molester in a family or in a neighborhood is a deeply stressful situation. Victims of rape and molestation face the terrible burden of stigma. And Saudi tradition has always been to hide these disgraceful acts perpetuated against women and children out of fear of damage to the reputation of the families (not to mention the victims) that have gone through such terrible circumstances.

But this tradition has the effect of destroying evidence that in actuality is in the public interest. The public and the government has an unalienable right to root out rapists and child molesters from the community, and this right takes precedence over a family’s interest in protecting its reputation.

In many cases even doctors that are aware of the abuse will avoid getting involved in a “private” family matter out of fear of having to testify in the public’s interest. Hospitals and their staff also risk exposure to litigation should they take it upon themselves to institute action, especially in cases where the abuse occurred by a relative of the victim.

The new clinic in Riyadh, designed specifically to gather physical evidence of heinous crimes against individuals and society, will receive greater protection against angry families than what is granted general hospital staff. And the clinic should reduce the waiting period for examination, especially of children, thus reducing the chance of evidence being lost because a physical examination didn’t occur quickly after the crime.

Today, the problem is that a court must approve such examinations. This takes time and time is truly of the essence in these matters. Dr. Saeed Al-Ghamdi, the Riyadh forensic medicine center supervisor, stressed that waiting for the court’s approval to start the examination leads to loss of actual evidence if not performed as quickly as possible. Scars, lesions and bruises heal. Physical evidence of rape or other forms of abuse goes away as the body repairs itself. DNA evidence is washed away.

What we need is a faster process and a governmental unit dedicated to expediting these investigations.