Saudi Gazette

Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – The culture of shame still dominates the discussion on harassment of children in the Kingdom as a result of social customs and traditions, says Dr. Hawazen Al-Zahrani, project consultant at Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization. “Our role as experts is to change this culture,” she said, adding that the shame culture is changing as a result of public awareness programs, especially during the past four years following the issuance of the law for protection of children from torture and sexual harassment. Addressing a workshop at ALJ Hospital in Jeddah on preventing harassment of handicapped children on the occasion of World Autism Day, Al-Zahrani said the awareness programs target parents, particularly mothers who can pass the information quickly to children. “Our programs also target teachers of these children,” she said. “If the mother understands how to protect her children, she can deliver the message to them easily and effectively.” Al-Zahrani emphasized that harassment comes mainly from relatives as children feel safe with them. “Harassers suffer from anomalies and mental diseases. Some of them take drugs and lack religious knowledge and protection to stop them from such immoral practices,” she added. Al-Zahrani has also published a book on best methods to protect children from harassment. The book is co-authored by her colleague Dr. Nayef Bin Aabed Al-Zari, head of the department for special education at King Abdulaziz University. “This book will be an important reference for such issues,” she said, adding that she and Al-Zari took three years to complete the work. Al-Zahrani said the Kingdom lacks correct statistics on harassment of children. Mohammed Al-Harthi, director of the Saudi Society for Special Education, said his organization held the workshop considering the growing cases of harassment against children. “We have been organizing a number of workshops and lectures for the benefit of handicapped children.” The workshop emphasized the need to create confidence in children and screen cultural films and documentaries to enhance their awareness and help them deal with harassers properly. “We should also teach children how to protect themselves from harassment and how to inform parents about such incidents,” Al-Harthi said while stressing the need to break the culture of shame that often helps harassers to continue their crime.