The first Saudi Medical Assessment Forum kicks off in Madinah
In a significant step reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to developing its health and justice systems, the "First Saudi Forum for Multidisciplinary Medical Assessment and Policy Integration in Cases of Sexual Abuse and Assault" was launched in Madinah. This pioneering two-day event brings together leading experts and specialists from the health, security, justice, and legal sectors, with the aim of establishing a unified national framework to enhance the effectiveness of responses to these sensitive issues.
General context: Within the 2030 vision for developing social systems
This forum is being organized within the context of the major transformations taking place in the Kingdom as part of Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on developing social systems, strengthening human rights, and protecting the most vulnerable groups in society. In recent years, the Kingdom has enacted important legislation, such as the Protection from Abuse Law and the Child Protection Law. This forum represents a significant step forward in ensuring integration among various entities and the most effective implementation of these laws, moving from the legislative stage to a stage of integrated institutional practice.
The importance of the forum and its expected impact
Dr. Faisal Al-Zubaidi, a forensic medicine consultant, explained that this forum was convened in response to a pressing need for a national framework that brings together legal, medical, criminal, and social expertise. This integration aims to ensure that assault cases are handled scientifically and systematically, preserving victims' rights and providing strong and reliable evidence to the judicial authorities. The forum is expected to contribute to standardizing procedures, improving the quality of forensic medical reports, expediting medical and legal responses, and providing necessary psychological and social support to victims to help them recover and overcome trauma.
Specialized scientific topics to enhance expertise
The first day of the forum featured enriching scientific sessions that addressed the formal procedures for handling reports, from the moment of reporting to the court proceedings. Sheikh Waleed Al-Hassan reviewed the roles of security and legal authorities. The role of protection centers within the national response system was also discussed, along with the importance of forensic medicine in investigating and handling assault cases. Dr. Nawaf Al-Juhani, a forensic medicine consultant, focused his lecture on the scientific protocols for taking medical histories in cases of sexual assault, emphasizing that accurate documentation forms the safe bridge that enables victims to reclaim their rights.
Towards building qualified national cadres
The Saudi Society for Forensic Medicine, as part of its strategic objectives, announced its intention to launch the first specialized professional development program to train physicians in handling cases of sexual assault according to a scientific methodology and clear standards. This initiative will directly contribute to raising the efficiency of professional practice in this sensitive field and ensuring the provision of comprehensive care that protects rights and preserves human dignity, thus enhancing the Kingdom's position as a leading model in the region in the field of victim protection and achieving justice.
