Interior Minister receives executive plan on family protection against violence
09-09-2015
Minister of Interior Salamah Hammad received in his office on Tuesday Minister of Social Development Reem Abu Hassan and NCFA Secretary General Fadel Al-Hmoud who submitted the executive plan for the enhancement of institutional response in the area of family protection against violence.
The plan was prepared by a committee commissioned by the Minister of Interior to review recommendations presented by a fact finding committee formed previously to learn the facts surrounding the crime that took place in Tabarbour where three children were murdered at the hands of their mother.
During the meeting, Hammad indicated that the plan will be jointly submitted by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) to the Cabinet of Ministers for endorsement and will be circulated later on to relevant institutions for implementation after it is approved according to procedures.
"We are seeking to establish family protection units in all governorates of the Kingdom in consistency with the objectives and requirements of the Decentralization Project once it is endorsed and enacted. This comes in recognition of the important role played by NCFA in the formulation of policies pertaining to the establishment of social peace and security, being a national support umbrella that coordinates work among governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with family protection and also being a formulator of policies, strategies and development plans that aim to ensure the creation of a political, social, economic, legislative and cultural environment that supports the family and its members enabling them to realize their inspiration more effectively", added Hammad.
On her part, Abu Hassan pointed out the lack of cadre personnel at the MoSD which impacts negatively on the outputs and functions of the Ministry despite the exerted and dedicated efforts. Shortages are mostly concentrated in social service offices in addition to insufficient number of psychiatrists and forensic doctors.
Al-Hmoud stressed the role of effective communication and coordination among governmental, non-governmental and civil society organizations concerned with the issue of family protection, noting that the Council seeks to achieve a set of goals including the formulation of policies that improve the lives of families and the preparation of research and data sources for the use of decision makers, program managers, NCFA supporters and other relevant entities with a view of institutionalizing the process of timely decision making.
The executive plan comprised five pillars including: staff relevant institutions with sufficient personnel cadre to provide services for family violence cases, enhance the efficiency of service-providers at these institutions, improve referral mechanisms either of cases, data or files among institutions handling the cases, increase public awareness on the concept of family violence and its impacts on the individual, family and society, and finally provide a safe and secure family environment.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of addressing the shortages in MoSD cadres by seconding staff to work at the Ministry from other government institutions.
November,10th.
