Council of Family Affairs asked to address domestic violence

MADINAH: Women interested in family and women’s issues praised the approval of the Council of Ministers of the regulations of the Council of Family Affairs, which aims to improve the role of the family in society.
They stressed the importance of the council’s role in addressing issues concerning Saudi families, and hoped that the council will also address such issues as domestic violence, high divorce rates, and risks of extremism threatening children and teens.
Consultant psychologist and UN expert in the treatment of addiction among women Muna Al-Sawaf stressed the importance of paying close attention to intellectual issues and sensitive issues within families. She said there are many social transformations that have changed the previous concepts and understanding of the role of family, as families have become smaller and limited mostly to the husband, wife and children, rather than including extended family members.
Such changes have in turn changed the relationship within families, as relations between family members appear to be less close than before, she said. There are also increasing cases of domestic violence against women and children, she noted, as well as recruitment of youths by terrorist organizations by taking advantage of their emotions and family dynamics. Cases of divorce are also higher than they were in the past, she said.
As such, she said there must be a reconfiguration of the understanding of the family in Saudi society in order to address such issues. Families and individuals should be better taught the meaning of marriage, and trained on the importance of building a coherent family unit.
Specialized committees and family counseling units can also help address these issues, including issues of affairs in marriages, domestic violence, intellectual extremism and family spending.
Al-Sawaf called for a true representation of all members of the family in the council, including children and women, and to ensure that the council’s long term plan is clear and in line with Vision 2030.
In turn, Hatoon Al-Fassi, a professor of women’s studies and writer, said the Council of Family Affairs under the Ministry of Social Development makes it more legitimate and promising, noting that it is best for the council to have its own administrative autonomy.
She said the council should consider laws that protect women, children and other members of the family, and follow up closely on issues of women’s employment and education.
It is hoped that the council will respond positively to the demands of women and that women’s empowerment will be strongly supported in line with Vision 2030’s goals.
According to social worker Amira Al-Moussa, domestic violence should be at the top of the agenda, especially as family violence is a very sensitive issue that is not talked about.