JEDDAH: Abused Saudi women continue to be reluctant to report to authorities that they are physically abused because they fear breaking up their home and risking the safety of their children.
As little as 1 percent of Saudi women report that they are victims of domestic violence and plan to seek help from social services, according to a recent study published by Dr. Waffah Fageeh, with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at King Abduaziz University Hospital in Jeddah.
Fegeeh’s study polled Saudi women in 2011-2012 and was published in January, but women continue to shun services because the entire family could suffer. And domestic abuse cases continue to rise.
A new National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) report revealed that it received 366 cases of domestic violence against women in 2016, up from 295 in 2015. Child abuse cases increased from 154 in 2015 to 188 in 2016.
Munira Al-Jwiri, a Riyadh lawyer, told Arab News that, “Family disintegration and divorce are among the crucial reasons why women fear reporting their cases.”
Although domestic violence is a common problem among women in Jeddah, only a negligible proportion of women plan to seek help. Policy makers should therefore improve social support services to encourage and cater for the needs of abused women, according to women’s rights advocates interviewed by Arab News.
“Some ladies accept whatever violence they face from their spouses and do not report it according to their religious beliefs and culture,” Fegeeh told Arab News.
“Ladies used to write comments below the questionnaire paper asking if there are places for them to use as shelters, which shows that there is a lack of awareness regarding the places to go,” she added.
She also said that most women refuse to ask for help from people outside the family because they fear being belittled and that their families may not accept them when they return home.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that about one in three women worldwide have experienced either physical and or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
The NSHR reported that it has received thousands of complaints of domestic violence in the past 10 years. These complaints included physical, sexual, financial and psychological abuse.
The plight of victims of domestic abuse is exacerbated by the low level of awareness of shelters, or protection homes. Further, at least one home protection home is not operating at capacity.
Al-Madinah Daily reported that Saeed bin Khalaf Al-Ghamdi, deputy director general of the Labor Ministry, said recently that, “the ministry’s Social Protection Home in Jeddah is empty of inmates for the first time in eight years.”
Al-Ghamdi attributed this to the increased level of awareness in society as well as the increased efforts exerted by the home’s officials.
However, Fageeh said an empty women’s shelter is not necessarily a good sign in a city of more than 3 million people.
“Having an empty protection home can not be a sign for the success of the awareness campaign,” Fageeh said.
Protection houses provide safety for victims who must be protected via a rehabilitation plan to offer the most suitable solutions.
Khalid Abalkhail, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, said victims of domestic abuse must meet specific criteria before admission.
“The home doesn’t receive any cases unless (the victim) has been exposed to a strong physical abuse that was medically proved,” he said.
Fegeeh said Saudi women rather sacrifice their personal well being to ensure the safety of their children. “Women prefer not to report their cases because they have no other shelters but their bad husband’s homes,” she said.
Although rehabilitation is offered to abuse victims from protection homes, some women refuse to go back home even when their problems are solved.
“Saudi women can make use of the social insurance disbursed of financial dues to have a private shelter,” Al-Jwiri said. “They can use it as their private income.”
Yet protection of women in shelters is restrictive. Protection houses limit a woman’s stay at the shelter for only three days. Their domestic issues must be resolved, including the guardian signing a pledge to stop the abuse, and the woman is returned home, according to Suhaila Zain Al-Abideen, a senior member of the NSHR.
But the Labor Ministry’s Abalkhail said the three-day time period could be extended. “The team sets a plan to solve the problem within the time determined, including making sure that no violence will occur again to these abused individuals,” he said.
These homes are temporary residences for abused women of any age and children under 18 years old. The homes provide temporary shelter, reform and social and psychological rehabilitation.
Jeddah abused-girls protection home stands empty
Jeddah abused-girls protection home stands empty
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strike on UNRWA school in Gaza
- Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom reiterates its “categorical rejection of the Israeli occupation’s continued targeting of civilians and relief agencies”
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday an Israeli strike that killed at least 10 Palestinians and wounded at least 20 others on Saturday at a school in Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp currently sheltering displaced families.
The Abu Assi school is run by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the main agency that has been procuring and distributing aid in the Gaza Strip.
The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom reiterates its “categorical rejection of the Israeli occupation’s continued targeting of civilians and relief and humanitarian agencies amid the silence of the international community.”
It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards ongoing Israeli violations that increase the suffering of the Palestinian people and undermine the chances of achieving peace in the region.
Recently passed Israeli laws have effectively banned UNRWA activities in Israel and the the commissioner-general of the agency Philippe Lazzarini has warned that this will leave a vacuum that will cost more Palestinian lives and create further instability in Gaza and the West Bank.
Olive presses in Tabuk process harvest from 1.8 million trees
RIYADH: Olive presses in the Tabuk region are currently processing the harvest from more than 1.8 million olive trees, which yield 94,000 tonnes of olives and more than 12,250 tonnes of olive oil.
The primary olive varieties are Arbequina, Arbosana, nabalie and souri, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The geography of the Tabuk region and its proximity to a Mediterranean climate, makes it one of the Kingdom’s most important areas for producing various crops.
In addition to olive oil, the region is known for its grapes, apricots, peaches, strawberries, mangoes, oranges and mandarins, with several varieties cultivated to prioritize quality over quantity.
Agriculture is a key economic sector in Saudi Arabia, contributing to self-sufficiency and exports. The government has prioritized the sector by providing farmers with soft loans, agricultural machinery, pumps and other essential equipment.
The regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture supports farmers by encouraging the use of advanced agricultural technologies and offering specialized consultations to maximize yields.
It also organizes seasonal agricultural festivals in cities, governorates and centers in the region, timed to coincide with harvest seasons.
The Olive Festival is the region’s premier seasonal event, providing a vital marketing platform for farmers to sell olive products and derivatives.
It is held alongside other events throughout the region, supporting the agricultural community and promoting local produce.
Thai business meets Arab flair in Riyadh
- Fair highlights products, brands aiming to tap into Saudi market
RIYADH: The Thailand International Mega Fair brought Thai businesses in contact with Arab flair in Riyadh.
The three-day event, which concluded on Sunday, showcased Thailand’s presence in the Middle East by featuring innovative Thai products and services across various industries.
Marking a historic collaboration between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, the fair signaled a new era of trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
One of the featured brands was Oud Era, a Thai lifestyle brand offering oud-infused products including perfumes, oils, oud chips, and body care items. Its perfumes incorporate Arabian notes like musk, rose, and amber.
Kasaama Pohsa, chief brand officer at Oud Era, said that the oud is sourced directly from the brand’s agarwood factory, ensuring an entirely in-house production process.
Thailand is recognized as one of the leading exporters of oud, which is valued for its longevity and a scent that intensifies as the wood matures. Pohsa said that her clientele primarily comprises customers from Gulf countries.
Pohsa said: “The reason that we came to this exhibition is because we saw the high potential of the Saudi market. It is a very big market with high purchasing power.”
The fair also showcased fashion brands like Marada Clothing, a label known for its distinctive textiles and bold designs.
Panasan Suksanguan, brand officer of Marada, told Arab News that the brand aims to establish itself in the Middle Eastern market with its unique take on long dresses.
Suksanguan said: “We want to be the first ones from Thailand to be here. Whenever you think about fashion in Thailand, you think of me.”
The event showcased more than 200 brands offering prominent Thai products across sectors including food and beverages, tourism and hospitality, health, automotive parts, smart agriculture, innovation, and fragrances.
It was organized by Index Creative Village in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, and Cosmos Events company, with support from the Royal Thai Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The event attracted thousands of visitors, including specialists and buyers, and helped to create opportunities to connect with industry experts, suppliers, and sector leaders to foster partnerships and support business expansion in the Kingdom.
Visitors also participated in various events, including seminars, discussion panels, and forums, which provided valuable insights into the region’s economic landscape.
New project to plant 90,000 trees in Hali Wildlife Park
RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has launched a project to restore Hali Wildlife Park in Al-Qunfudhah governorate, Makkah region.
Part of the Saudi Green Initiative, the project aims to enhance vegetation cover and promote sustainable environmental goals, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The initiative involves planting 90,000 native and wild trees, such as vachellia tortilis, tamarix aphylla, vachellia seyal, balanites aegyptiaca, maerua crassifolia, delonix elata, salvadora persica, leptadenia pyrotechnica and acacia nilotica.
The trees will cover approximately 6 million sq. meters, irrigated using water from nearby dams. A 6-kilometer pipeline will be built to channel water from Wadi Hali Dam to the park.
Hali Wildlife Park is known for its scenic landscapes, diverse vegetation and proximity to Wadi Hali Dam, attracting local and international visitors.
The center’s afforestation efforts contribute to creating green spaces, preserving endangered native plants, lowering temperatures, improving air quality, and controlling sand encroachment.
The center is committed to enhancing and managing vegetation sites, protecting natural resources, combating illegal logging, and safeguarding biodiversity, the SPA reported.
‘Climate action must be a collective effort,’ says COP CEO Soltanov
- Fight against climate change will fail unless countries come together
- National interest linked with global actions
BAKU: Countries from around the world must come together in a “collective effort” to fight climate change, COP29 CEO Elnur Soltanov told Arab News.
“When we say, ‘in solidarity for a greener world,’ we mean that climate action must be a collective effort. Unless it is collective, it won’t work, and we risk losing everything,” said Soltanov.
He pointed out the moral imperative of international solidarity, particularly for nations that contribute minimally to global warming yet suffer the most from its effects, such as African countries and small island nations.
“African countries, contribute less than 4 percent to global warming, but the majority of climate-vulnerable countries are in the African continent,” he said.
For example, as of last year, extreme heatwaves during summer have critically affected the northern parts of Africa, such as Tunisia. The temperature in Tunis reached 49°C, whereas Agadir in Morocco, recorded 50.4°C, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
One of the major components of this solidarity is climate finance, which Soltanov believes is essential for creating a fair balance of responsibilities among nations.
“Different countries have different responsibilities, in terms of what is happening in the world today. There are beneficiaries, there are not so many beneficiaries, so this balance and fairness between them could only be provided in case we are moving collectively, and to move collectively, we believe we should deliver on climate finance this year,” he said, stressing that climate finance is critical for enabling of collective action.
Soltanov acknowledged that the outcomes of such gatherings are frequently scrutinized.
“The crisis we are facing is real, it is significant and therefore whenever it is helped, whatever the outcomes are, there will be criticism. It is not about Azerbaijan, it is not about Saudi Arabia, it is not about any country,” he said.
Despite the criticism, the CEO prefers to be heavily focused on achieving tangible results and delivering meaningful climate action instead of focusing on who to blame for this global environmental problem.
“We are ready to listen to constructive arguments,” he said. “What would I tell everybody is, if you want to serve that national interest of Azerbaijan, you need to serve the global interest, which is about producing outcomes and deliverables in terms of tackling the climate crisis.”
He added: “Our focus is on delivering action, climate action, that is really consequential.”
Soltanov noted that developed countries have special responsibilities to assist others, highlighting the need for a cooperative approach to ensure that nobody is left behind.
“We don’t see the difference between oil producing or oil consuming country because oil transactions, gas transactions and coal transactions happen in a free market. Nobody is forced to buy from anybody.”
He added: “Therefore, all the countries are oil countries and all the countries are gas countries because the entire global development models are based on hydrocarbons, and we are trying to figure out these alternative models of development so that development and energy security, development and poverty are not things we choose from, they happen at the same time.”
Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, for example, can share their capabilities, experience, and partnerships to bring more to the table.
“We believe that, the way we look at, if there is anything Saudi Arabia, a country like Azerbaijan, could do for us, they are valuable in terms of experience and technology they acquire because they are at the forefront of the other forms of energy developments.”
