JEDDAH: The government-run Family Protection Home (Dar Al-Himaya) in Jeddah receives between 80 to 90 cases of domestic violence every month and has provided shelter to more than 900 women and children in the past three years, said Dr. Inaam Al-Rabouie, chairperson of the Family Protection Society which runs the shelter.
Al-Rabouie told Arab News that most victims stay at the shelter for up to three months while they are reconciled with their families.
“Some victims have been staying with us for more than a year because their problems have been difficult to solve. These problems are mainly related to marriage. We have some girls whose fathers refuse to allow them to marry,” she added. Dr. Al-Rabouie said that under the instructions of Princess Al-Anoud bint Muhammad, wife of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, every case is treated with utmost care and attention.
She added that victims are provided with shelter, food, medical and psychological care, and lawyers to take up their cases before courts and assist them in dealing with government departments.
She said the society was not limiting its role in providing protection to victims but has started to become proactive and taken measures to curb family violence through awareness programs in collaboration with a number of other NGOs.
“We have started what is called future treatment to prepare children to be good citizens who will not be violent in their dealings with others,” she said. “We are implementing a number of programs to qualify citizens and make our society a violence-free society,” she added.
Dr. Al-Rabouie said the society has extended its message on the international level by participating in a number of world events, including the recent International Family Conference in Cairo and the International Child Protection Conference in Edmonton, Canada.
She also said the society has brought a number of specialists to deliver lectures and organize workshops inside Saudi Arabia.
