Arab News, Tuesday, Nov 22, 2022 | Rabi Al Thani 27, 1444
Saudi laws guarantee ‘secure environment’ for children
Saudi Arabia :
On the occasion of World Children’s Day, celebrated each year on Nov. 20, Saudi
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi noted the
joint efforts of the ministry and governmental and private entities to promote
the rights, protection and welfare of children and to enable them to achieve
their aspirations, develop their capabilities, and ensure a brighter future for
the nation.
President of the National Society for Human Rights
Khalid bin Abdurrahman Al-Fakhri affirmed that Saudi Arabian law guarantees a
secure environment for children, citing rights established both in Shariah and
in international agreements to which the Kingdom has become a party. He said
that a law has been enacted to combat the abuse and neglect of minors.
Al-Rajhi highlighted that the Kingdom’s efforts in
the field of child protection are based on intrinsic principles, values and
legislation that preserve their rights.
He also noted the significance of the existing
national alignment in terms of education, healthcare and justice to protect
children through the programs and initiatives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Al-Rajhi highlighted some of the Kingdom’s most
prominent efforts in this respect, which include international cooperation to
implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by Saudi
Arabia in 1995; the approval of the Child Protection System to safeguard against
all forms of abuse and negligence that children might be exposed to; the
implementation of the National Policy to Prevent Child Labor; and the
criminalization of child harassment and exposing children to inappropriate
content.
He stressed the importance of embracing orphans
and children with special needs and providing the required care for children
with disabilities in partnership with the community.
Al-Rajhi also called for domestic violence to be
addressed, noting the availability of the hotline 1919 to report all forms of
domestic violence, as well as the child support line 116111, provided by the
Family Safety Program.
Al-Fakhri said that “certain behaviors that
involve children should be avoided because they constitute abuse or neglect of
the child. These behaviors include interfering with the child’s education,
mistreating him, harassing him, or exposing him to exploitation.
“They also include using demeaning language that
diminishes the child’s dignity, treating him unfairly for any reason, or
bullying him.”
He added: “There is no doubt that the Kingdom’s
special system for children has contributed to the preservation and constancy of
children’s rights. The issue calls for the relevant executive authorities to
step up awareness campaigns aimed at children and those who work with them.
“By delivering messages about children’s rights in
a way that speaks to their minds and age group, spreading awareness of
children’s rights also helps youngsters become more conscious of their rights.
“In order to nurture the child in a secure and
healthy atmosphere, it is also necessary to concentrate on monitoring any crimes
committed against the child.”