Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Shoura Council will discuss on Tuesday a strategy on domestic violence with Social Affairs Minister Majed Al-Qasabi. Al-Qasabi will be the first minister to appear before the Shoura, which is in its sixth term, began its fourth year on Wednesday. According to ministry sources, it was the minister himself who requested to meet the council members. They said the minister will be accompanied by his aides to listen to the members' comments on the ministry's present and future plans. A council member, who did not want to be identified, said the members will discuss with the minister a strategy on curbing the high incidence of violence especially against women and children inside homes. The member said the council is expected to ask the minister to expedite the formation of a national strategy against domestic violence and to intensify programs to raise awareness against this abominable phenomenon in society. He said the members will also open discussions with the minister on a number of issues concerning the performance of his ministry including the reinforcement of social protection and the opening a number of such homes in various parts of the Kingdom. He said the members will ask the minister to formulate clear-cut policies and procedures on the services to be provided to the beneficiaries from the social protection and hospitality homes. The members are also expected to ask the minister to make a clear mechanism for giving financial assistance to welfare societies, which should be electronically linked to the ministry. They are also expected to urge him to establish a quality-control department in the ministry to monitor the performance of the welfare and other organizations under its supervision.
