RIYADH: The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has said that it has received complaints concerning “violence” by women against their husbands. Noura Al-Ajlan, the NSHR deputy chairwoman for Family Affairs, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that women who are “domineering and neglectful” towards their husbands are regarded as “practicing a form of violence” against them. Al-Ajlan said, however, that the number of such cases was minimal compared to male-on-female violence.“Most cases concern violence against women and children,” she said. “Only seven percent of victims of violence approach the NSHR, however, as many victims will only turn to the authorities in extreme cases.”According to Al-Ajlan, violence in the Kingdom is not related to economic, educational or social environment factors. “This makes it difficult to assess cases, but the pressures of life are among the most prominent causes of violence,” she said. She added that the NSHR makes frequent visits to schools and universities to give lectures on the effects of all types of violence, whether physical or verbal. “We are also working on a scheme to coordinate with the Human Rights Commission, the Family Security Program and the Ministry of Social Affairs to build a database of complaints,” she said.
