Saudi Arabia inaugurated its first center for domestic violence in Makkah Wednesday as part of a campaign to combat domestic abuse, reports Asharq Al-Awsat.  Established in cooperation with Unicef, the center will protect women, children, the elderly and runaway girls for a temporary period while their cases are being processed.

A number of groups would be created to deal with medical, judicial and preventive measures, according to Sheikh Saleh Al-Turki, chairman of the Makkah city council’s committee for social development, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony for the center. Hospitals, police, and social and educational associations are expected to forward cases to the center.

The decision to create the center was in response to a June city council resolution calling for an organization to provide protection for the victims of domestic abuse, Al-Turki said. It can accept up to 151 people at a time.

Return