Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
(Image source: King Khalid Foundation)
BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO & ELAINE STOCKDALE
For the first time, a campaign highlighting domestic violence against women has been launched
in Saudi Arabia's male-dominated society.
The advertisement shows a hijab-clad woman whose eyes are seen through the gap of a veil.
One of the eyes: bruised and bloody. According to The Huffington Post, the advertisement
reads, "Some things can't be covered — fighting women's abuse together."
According to the International Business Times, the initiative for the campaign came about
after the well-known case of Lama al-Ghamdi circled in the media. Five-year-old al-Ghamdi
was reportedly ***, then beaten to death by her father.
The advertisement was released by the King Khalid Foundation as part of its "No More
Abuse" campaign, through which it hopes to provide wives and children with legal protection.
On its website, the King Khalid Foundation released a statement that translates to: "The
phenomenon of battered women in Saudi Arabia is much greater than is apparent on the surface
... We want to achieve justice for all women and children exposed to abuse in all parts
of the Kingdom."
NBC cites Saudi Princess Ameerah al-Taweel, who says: "The main issue when it comes to
abused women in Saudi is lack of knowledge. Some women who accept being abused don't know
their rights in Islam ... they can report their case and they will be protected by the
government ... The first step for women to protect themselves is to not be afraid to
speak up."
It's worth noting the World Economic Forum's 2012 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Saudi
Arabia 131 out of 148 countries for gender parity. (Via New Europe)