RIYADH: A top Saudi judge has called for raising public awareness of the laws and penalties in dealing with the widespread incidents of domestic violence in society to ensure justice to the victims.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of a five-day exhibition on the issue on Tuesday, Hamad Al-Zaid, head of the Civic Courts in the capital, said domestic violence needs to be paid greater attention before it becomes rampant.

He emphasized the need to enlighten people, through awareness campaigns, of their fundamental rights dealing with such crime. “They should be informed about the legal procedures to secure their rights. Social networking platforms are also useful tools in educating the community.”

The awareness exhibition was inaugurated by Justice Minister Walid Al-Samaani on Tuesday, in partnership with the National Guard Ministry represented through the Family Safety Program.

The minister said domestic violence has a negative impact on the society’s moral values and behavior. According to him, the ministry plays an active role in educating members of the community through its facilities.

“Such an exhibition is a part of social responsibility through the associated forensic domain of social programs, including the ‘Your family-your security’,” said Nasser Al-Oud, head of the General Directorate of Social Service (GDSS).

He said such exhibitions will be held in various civic courts across the Kingdom in the coming weeks through the GDSS. This will help in identifying the mechanisms for dealing with cases of abuse and violence as per the provisions of regulations in this regard, including the legal protection against child abuse, he added.