The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has ordered family courts to give divorcees the right to finalize formalities involving their sons and daughters at government and private sector agencies, local media said.

According to the decision, divorcees with custody of their children will be empowered to have family IDs and passports issued and to register at government institutions, including schools and social security offices, in addition to approving surgical procedures, a local daily said.

The decision comes to make the lives of divorcees easier after several children reported being denied their civil rights by their fathers, causing delays in their studies and creating a rift between the parents, Fahd Al-Bakran, Justice Ministry spokesman, told the daily.

Nasir Al-Oud, adviser to the justice minister for social programs, termed the decision as a “humane” and indicative of the importance justice bodies attribute to tackling problems facing divorcees and their children, especially when husbands use admin procedures to threaten ex-wives with delaying educational and health procedures.