JEDDAH: The Himaya Association in cooperation with the Ministry of Health held a workshop yesterday on procedures to deal with domestic violence.

Addressing the event, Cynthia Fraser, a technology safety specialist at the National Network to End Domestic Violence in Washington, called for greater awareness to encourage victims to speak out. She also stressed the need to trust the victims.

Dr. Inam Rabui, head of Himaya Association, said there are no telephone hotlines in the Kingdom to help victims of domestic violence. She attributed this to a shortage of qualified personnel to instantly deal with such cases.

Rabui said initiating a local hotline requires cooperation from the authorities. She added that victims could call her association on 0560949189.

Commenting on this, Fraser said that 53,203 cases were registered on hotlines in America.

About 150 beds are available at Himaya Association’s shelter in Jeddah, which has been functioning for three years but became independent from Al-Bir Association a year ago.

Fraser said Jeddah is home to almost four million people and one shelter was insufficient. There should ideally be one shelter for every 7,000 people, she added.

Al-Rabui said her association has helped 700 people since 2005, the majority of whom children. She added that 95 percent of these cases involved violence.

Nivin Afifi, head of the shelter, said the victims are provided with medical, educational and consultative services as well as social and legal help. She said 35 people living in the shelter have undergone courses in computing, beauty care and art.

“We also help victims receive aid from governmental social service centers and provide them with lawyers,” she said.

When asked about how quickly they deal with cases, Afifi said the shelter only receives cases that come from the governorate or from the Ministry of Social Affairs. People who consult the association via telephone are transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs, which studies their cases before they can get help from the association. “They have to provide a complete file about their cases, including a medical report. Their cases are studied at the ministry before being transferred to us,” she added.

Speaking to Arab News, Fraser expressed concern at publishing of details of abuse in the media which may encourage others to follow suit. “Media people can work out ways to balance between informing the public and educating abusers. For example, we can say that technology can be misused in various ways without identifying how,” she said.

The Council of Ministers recently approved the establishment of 30 shelters to help victims of domestic violence around the Kingdom.