A senior academician urged parents on Monday to take extra caution to protect their children against sexual abuse.

Wafa Maria Asiri, head of the Kindergarten Unit of Education at the Ministry of Education, was addressing callers on the nature and various types of sexual harassment against children and how to prevent them.

The official explained that sexual harassment can occur in verbal and physical form. “Harassment also includes allowing a child to view pornographic material or images,” she said.

She stressed that young minds are vulnerable to such influence.

The phone-in service is part of an awareness program conducted by the National Center for Media and Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health, which hosts a group of health specialists who will raise awareness on the prevention of sexual harassment on children, social environment and peoples’ behavior patterns. The program coincided with the beginning of the second school semester on Monday.

Members of the public can contact officials on toll free number 8002494444 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. during weekdays.

Amal Abu Jedaiye, director of the National Center for Media and Health Awareness, will handle inquiries, including cases of molestation. People can also contact health officials through Twitter on @saudimoh.

The official also said that the ministry conducts awareness campaigns from time to time to educate the masses on various topics related to health.

“The Shoura Council recently reviewed the entire draft law on the protection of children’s rights, which contains five chapters and 25 articles, and felt that it should be further studied by the council’s social affairs committee to ensure more rights and privileges for children,” said Ahmed Al-Yahya, assistant secretary-general of the Council, in a statement.