Some may say that it's been a long time coming but the domestic violence law that has been submitted to the Shoura Council marks a significant and, indeed, a fairly timely response to the urgings of various governmental and non-governmental agencies over the past couple of years. The issue of domestic abuse has been addressed by human rights organizations in the Kingdom as well as various women's groups, in particular some led by members of the royal family. The issue has come to the fore for a number of reasons. A higher rate of education in the Kingdom, especially among women, has engendered a more heightened awareness of what constitutes abuse. This, along with a growing population, has seen more abuse complaints filed. It is extremely important that domestic abuse be codified in the law and ways to deal with it be defined in detail. It is a scourge that cuts across all socio-economic groups, and while the stress of poverty may be an aggravating factor, there is no evidence to show that the poor have an innate proclivity for abusing those close to them. The abuse occurs in hovels as well as in mansions. The codification of the problem can have a significant effect in instilling in the majority of our population that is very young the idea that domestic abuse is unacceptable. There are still root causes to be dealt with but the knowledge that its prohibition is codified in the law automatically impresses its importance on the public. Passing through adolescence into adulthood with such knowledge is a first step towards controlling violent urges and finding more civilized ways to express anger or unhappiness. The draft proposal proposes a wide-ranging and highly-organized approach to the problem of domestic violence, especially as it pertains to children. This is a significant step forward as it makes dealing with the problem no longer the exclusive domain of advocate groups. It becomes a problem that we all must face. __
