RIYADH — Chairman of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) Awwad Al-Awwad has issued directives to commission officials to monitor all viral video clips violating rights of children exposing them to danger. Besides, officials have been directed to take appropriate punitive measures against perpetrators of the crime. The commission, therefore, has appealed to report cases of abuse or negligence to the pertinent authorities immediately. It also asked officials to facilitate procedures for reporting abuse and negligence cases, especially a report by a child, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. Within the context of its explanation of procedures on abuse and negligence cases, Al-Awwad said that the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and police stations refer cases related to child abuse and other violations, according to the rules of the child regulation and its executive bylaw. These rules emphasize the importance of investigating these cases at the Public Prosecution, which will probe whether the child is a suspect or a victim. It will ask for a report from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development on the child's condition and what should be done. Then this report along with the case will be referred to the pertinent court. The commission said the court takes into consideration violations of the rules of the Child Rights Regulation and its executive bylaw, in line with the provisions of the Regulation for Protection from Harassment, when deciding an appropriate action against the violator.
