The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has criticized the services at a number of facilities overseen by the Ministry of Social Affairs after visits across the country by a delegation of the organization, Al-Watan Arabic daily said. In its seventh report, the NSHR described conditions at the Makkah Girls Correction Home as “very poor” and said it faced the threat of collapse and fires. The delegation recommended the facility be moved to another building. They also called for separate accommodation for girls who have completed their sentences but have not been allowed home by their families. The delegation also called on the relevant authorities to reconsider their methods of following up on cases, and said there should be shorter periods separating the periodic inventory of cases. Other recommendations called for installation of monitoring cameras at the facility and that inmates should not be physically abused. It also recommended that courses be held to rehabilitate inmates which would focus on self-development, character building and vocational training. The NSHR also called for workers to be trained how to deal with inmates, and for more recruitment of qualified psychiatric and social specialists. The NSHR delegation also criticized conditions at the Boys Social Education Home in Makkah. It said all forms of physical and psychological punishments should be banned and violators investigated. The facility should also be moved to a new and cleaner building. A new cleaning contractor should also be employed, the report added. The report highlighted other pressing needs at the facility, including better quality of food, well-staffed and stocked medical clinic, fixing of the ventilation system and paying attention to the cleanliness of inmates' clothing. The report added that these facilities must prepare the inmates mentally for society; including providing religious, social, cultural and sports activities. The NSHR also criticized conditions at the Elderly Care Home in Asir, calling for residents to be moved urgently to more comfortable facilities. There should also be the provision of modern medical equipment along with qualified, experienced medical staff; a fully-equipped kitchen with proper health standards; a pharmacy with medication for the elderly; and a dentist and general physician at the men and women's sections. It also called for the construction of green spaces and areas for walking inside the facility. Another facility visited by the delegation was the Social Development Center and the Social Nursery Home in the Eastern Province, where they discussed the beating of some children and the need to ban physical abuse at these centers. The Social Care Home in Madina was described in the report as having “good” ventilation, but was criticized for medicine shortages as revealed by a doctor at the home's clinic.
