National plan to curb family violence OK’d

The Shoura Council approved a proposal for a national plan to deal with family violence.
The decision was made on Sunday at the 55th session of the council under the chairmanship of Abdullah Al-Asheikh.
Assistant Speaker of the council, Fahad bin Metad Al-Hamad, said combating family violence is important. Council’s members arrived at the decision on a proposal of the social affairs, family and youth committee based on the annual report of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Family violence can cause broken homes and can lead to children becoming delinquents. Incidents of quarrels between parents and among children are reported from time to time.
There are many kinds of violence — verbal, psychological, physical and economic. According to a sociologist, verbal abuse against women, children, physically challenged and the elderly is the most common form.
He explained that there should be family guidance programs to reduce violence, admit mistakes and manage anger in addition to spreading kindness and compassion among family members, especially toward women and the infirm.
The council urged the Ministry of Social Affairs to coordinate with the Ministry of Education to set up private schools for mentally disabled children.
At present, mentally disabled children are kept at homes or in centers run by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
While reading the annual report of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), members suggested that the authority in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Planning should find ways and means of attracting more areas of cooperation from international investors.


Earlier on Sunday, Al-Asheikh received the Danish Ambassador to the Kingdom Christian Konigsfeldt at his chamber at the council headquarters in Riyadh.
During the meeting, the officials discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral ties. The Danish envoy extended an invitation on behalf of the speaker of the Danish Parliament to Al-Asheikh to visit Denmark at a convenient time.