Assessment of current child abuse policies in Saudi Arabia within the healthcare context: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Background Global efforts to protect children from violence have been ongoing since the early 20th century. In Saudi Arabia, several policies were implemented to protect children from abuse and exploitation. Objective This review examines the current landscape of child abuse policies within the healthcare system of Saudi Arabia, evaluating the existing challenges and identifying areas for improvement. Methods This comprehensive review utilized multiple databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed, to identify articles relevant to child abuse, neglect, or adverse childhood experiences in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s governmental websites were reviewed to retrieve relevant laws and legislative documents. Results Several international agreements and domestic laws were implemented in Saudi Arabia, including the establishment of the National Family Safety Program (NFSP) (2005), Anti-trafficking in Persons Law (2009), Law for Protection from Abuse (2013), Child Protection Law (2014), Anti-Harassment Law (2018), and Juveniles’ Law (2018). Moreover, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) oversees the implementation of these laws and provides support to abuse victims. However, despite existing legal frameworks, detecting and reporting child abuse cases in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system faces challenges, including a lack of awareness, inadequate training, and the latest child abuse manual established in 2014. Conclusion While progress has been made, efforts are required by a multifaceted approach encompassing training healthcare providers, intersectoral collaboration, awareness campaigns, and developing a revised manual aligned with current laws in the Kingdom.