Rules on orphans’ care lack clarity: Lawyer

Khalid Alnowaiser

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Apr 30, 2011

RIYADH: Under the support of Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman, the first conference for orphans’ care was held in Riyadh recently, to address issues pertaining to orphans’ care in the Kingdom.

The conference was attended by a group of experts interested in orphans’ issues to discuss new legislation, existing orphans’ care programs, and local, regional and international experiences on the subject.

Several studies were submitted by participants, including Saudi attorney Khalid Alnowaiser, who presented research entitled “The Role of National Systems in the Protection and Care of Orphans’ Rights.”

Alnowaiser stated that orphans’ care is a very important matter for the Kingdom, since the welfare of children directly affects the future prosperity of the nation.

Alnowaiser added that the Saudi government has paid great attention to orphans, both in terms of developing care plans and by enacting many legal regulations, led by the Basic Law, which confirm the government’s commitment to strengthen family bonds and preserve Arab and Islamic values ​​for all Saudi citizens.

However, existing regulations relating to orphans’ care remain lacking by failing to clarify the rules by which individuals taking care of orphans are chosen and the basis for their training and rehabilitation.

Further, the regulations need to be amended to address orphans’ problems in order to integrate them as equal productive citizens into Saudi society.

Although the Kingdom has acceded to many international conventions on the protection of children, such as the International Convention on the Rights of the Child issued by the United Nations, with reservations on some articles that are contrary to Shariah, especially those pertaining to capital punishment, more needs to be done.

Until the issuance of a special regulation for orphans, it is hoped that the government will establish an authority that assumes the tasks of coordination, supervision and implementation of all regulations and decisions issued by official bodies, as well as the importance of expanding the awareness of orphans’ rights by holding training courses and workshops in which orphans themselves participate.

Opening the conference on the care of orphans, Prince Salman, who is chairman of the Charitable Society for the Care of Orphans (Insan), urged businessmen and philanthropists to extend all-out support for projects aimed at enhancing the welfare of orphans in the country.