JEDDAH, 28 May 2008 — Women police will play a greater role in protecting women and children suffering from family violence in cooperation with the Society for the Protection of Family in Jeddah, said Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Ghamdi, director of police in Makkah province.

He said the society would also be provided with police protection.

“We’ll strengthen our cooperation with the association,” Al-Ghamdi said, adding that a two-member panel would prepare the cooperation charter. He was speaking to reporters after visiting the society’s headquarters in Jeddah with Dr. Ali Al-Hanaki, director general of social affairs and chairman of the family protection committee in Makkah province.

Yesterday, the society held a seminar for health workers in Jeddah on ways to deal with different abuse cases.

More than 650 family violence cases have been reported in Jeddah, Al-Hanaki told Arab News, adding that Riyadh and Jeddah had the largest cases of family violence in the country.

“Most of these cases were reported during Eid holidays and school examinations,” Al-Hanaki pointed out.

The committee follows up cases of family violence and provides the victims with treatment and rehabilitation services. “Our committee makes surprise visits and hold telephone contacts with victims to get reassured about their condition and give them a feeling that there is somebody to support them,” he said.

Dr. Enaam Raboue, president of the society, said the group had received more than 250 family violence cases since its inception five months ago.

“We handle these cases judiciously. We also follow up the cases in courts,” Raboue said, adding that women victims would be given shelter at the social protection house.

Mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, lack of religious commitment and education, poverty, the kind of social upbringing and unemployment were some of the major reasons for family violence, Raboue said.

“We treat victims of family violence humanely by providing them with their requirements, including food, clothing, health care and counseling to help them lead a normal life,” she added.