JEDDAH: Victims of domestic violence are finding telephone helplines are hardly of any use. Callers who do manage to get through are often referred to organizations that are limited in the help they can provide.
Helplines are offered by rights organizations, Himaya, a charitable body run by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and its protection committees across the Kingdom. There are 15 numbers that victims can dial when needing help.
The most used is the 1919 number, a 24-hour helpline. There are also regional numbers — both landlines and fax numbers — that one can use. However, most of these numbers, in spite of advertising a round-the-clock service, only operate during working hours.
A victim of domestic violence told Arab News she is disappointed at the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), which she said was unable to protect her from her abusive husband. The victim, who is based in the southern region, said: “It took me three days to reach them. Each time I would call, they would tell me to call later. When they answered they told me that they are a monitoring body and not an executive body, and that they can’t provide me with security.” The woman, who asked her name not be published, said an employee told her that if she asks for divorce then she would be transferred to the Reconciliation Committee, and if she demands a shelter then she would be referred to a government-run women’s shelter. “I need protection from my husband who abuses me physically and emotionally, and nothing more,” she added.
Husain Al-Sharif, general supervisor of the NSHR in Makkah province, confirmed that the body is limited in what help it can give to victims. “The NSHR helps victims by studying their cases and transferring them to bodies that can help solve their problems,” he said.
He added that the NSHR is not an executive department, and that it works to ease the process by urging responsible departments to decide on cases.
Saud Katib, who holds a doctorate in mass communication and media studies and is a campaigner against domestic violence with special focus on child abuse, said he has had mixed experiences with helplines. “I have always tried to test if these work,” he said, adding that helplines are the first line of defense. “The way they operate is a catastrophe. They announced 15 numbers in the press and they said they would deal immediately and secretly with abuse cases. I called at different times, but none of these numbers was answered, except one in Makkah,” Katib said.
He added that the operator answered him inappropriately. Katib quoted the operator saying: “We are a government body, we are closing now, call us later.” He added that he was not asked for any contact details. “Six months ago, I called a number and an answering machine asked me to leave my name and contact number, no one has called me until now,” Katib said.
He said that three weeks ago he called 1919 and someone answered. “He (the operator) said he was from the Ministry of Social Affairs and I informed him then about a fake case of a child being severely abused by his father. I gave him my contact and address, and waited for a response. After 10 days I received a call. They told me they were from the Ministry of Social Affairs.”
When Katib asked about the delay in responding to the complaint, he was told that the complaint was received just two days ago and that they had to wait till a manager had seen it.
Katib accused the ministry of “absorbing the anger (of the public) through announcements.” He pointed out that over 20 conferences and events on child abuse had taken place but “no rules or protective measures” had been set.
He said these numbers are of no use if they do not provide immediate assistance. “What if the victim called in the hope that she would receive help? What would happen if the abuser knew that the victim called for help?” he asked.
Speaking about the Himaya charity shelter home, Katib said they told him they could not do anything. “They only take information as they do not have the right to go to a victim’s home and take her from there,” he said. “Who is responsible then?” he asked, adding there must be an independent body that could liaise with the police and go with them to the victim, as all such cases should be treated with urgency.
Katib is interested in such helplines mainly because of his work in highlighting the plight of the victims of abuse, especially child abuse.
He began an awareness campaign to highlight the problem.
“The first stage is crucial,” said Katib. He added that abusers live with their victims, something that places mental pressure on victims.
Katib also commented on a statement made to Arab News by Ali Al-Hinaki, general manager of Social Affairs in Makkah province.
Al-Hinaki, who was answering a question about the ineffectiveness of the 1919 service, said: “They are working if you try calling them ... we do not announce it often so shelters do not get crowded in a week.”
Katib said the minister himself announced the issue of abuse is not that big, and here lies the contradiction with a regional official saying that the number (1919) is not announced often in the press because the shelters get overcrowded in a week.
Arab News learned that the 1919 was activated last March and that it receives “a lot” of abuse cases from Saudis and non-Saudis who are beaten or locked up or sexually abused. Cases of abuse against men over 18 are not dealt with by the service. Arab News attempted to call Protection Committees — including those in Riyadh, Makkah, Asir, Madinah, Hail, Najran, Tabuk — but received no answers except from the manager of the protection committee in the north, Habib Al-Shamari, who refused to comment.
