awaited legislation that defines violence against women and children has been submitted to the Shoura Council for its consideration in preparation for final approval by King Abdullah. This was confirmed by Dr. Muhammad Al-Harbi, Director General of Social Protection Administration at the Ministry of Social Affairs. He said the Ministry of Social Affairs, along with eight ministries and agencies, were involved in drafting the law. This includes the ministries of Interior, Justice, Health, Education, the Investigation and General Prosecution Commission and the Human Rights Commission. He said the law will provide protection for children and women from all types of abuse and will also ensure they are given shelter and care. According to sources, the new law could be promulgated in six months. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the Ministry of Social Affairs will take over the running of the Social Protection Home in Jeddah, which is currently under investigation for administrative and financial violations. The violations are alleged to have occurred during the two years that the home was run by the Family Protection Society. A report is being prepared for the authorities citing runaways, suicides, extended irregular stays, and a lack of family reconciliation programs. A separate report also notes mixing of sexes inside the home, women permitted to leave the premises with unrelated men, and the relocation of young girls to “unsuitable accommodation” in “dangerous districts with high crime rates”. The report cites “continual threats” from Society officials to admit girls to a mental hospital or expel them from the Home, and “creating a culture of suicide”. Several cases of immoral behavior have occurred at the home, according to the document, such as the use of hashish, tobacco and homosexual relations, and the report also mentions the practice of “oppression”, saying that women's families were made to feel reluctant to visit their relatives. Dr. Ali Al-Hanaki, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah, confirmed that the Ministry Social Affairs in Makkah has taken over the operation to ensure it functions properly. Women supervisors from the ministry will look after the residents. Meanwhile, a resident of the Home, whose complaints are being probed, claimed that many women do not get any benefit from donations made by philanthropists. She claimed that buses donated to the Home were sold later to buy luxury cars for management members. Saeed Khalf Al-Ghamdi, Acting Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah described the attitude of the supervisors at the Home as unacceptable. He said the problems at the Home can be attributed to lack of legislation regulating such shelters. He said that the solution to these problems lies in the approval of the new law submitted to the Shoura Council. He said similar laws are found in 24 countries around the globe. Most of the countries have empowered their Ministry of Justice or the police with executive powers, unlike the case in the Kingdom, he said.
