Riyadh — The Criminal Procedure Regulations prohibit guardians from exploiting or from any form of psychological, physical, and sexual mistreatment or threats against women related to them or under their guardianship or care. The Public Prosecution said in a report issued on the occasion of the International Women's Day that a guardian's failure or negligence to fulfill his duties or commitments to provide basic needs to his family members or those under his care by regulation will be considered as mistreatment. Various Articles of the Criminal Procedure Regulations also protect women's privacy during security inspections and uphold their legal rights, the Public Prosecution said. A woman suspected of a crime is checked only by a woman deputized by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). If a woman is residing in a house which is to be inspected then those in charge of inspection should have a woman officer with them. Article 54 the Criminal Procedure Regulations ensure that women living in the residence which is to be inspected should be allowed to wear their hijabs. There are 200 female employees and 300 administrative staff working at the Public Prosecution. There are 150 female university students undergoing training at the Public Prosecution. As per Article 12 of the Criminal Procedure Regulations, confidentiality of juveniles and girls are maintained during investigations. Article 36 stipulates that a woman can only be questioned in the presence of her unmarriageable relative (maharam). If this is not possible, then khulwa (illicit seclusion) is forbidden. The regulations for protection of women from harassment stress that women should be protected from any kind of harassment, violence or insult. It also guarantees protection of working women against harassment.
