Saudi Arabia: Youth Problems Need Everyone’s Attention

The welfare of our youth has been compromised by many factors that should be given more serious attention to protect the future of our next generation. Among them are the increasing rates of divorce, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, terrorism, unemployment, low wages and the high cost of living.

To begin with, the alarming rate of divorce is a painful reality that needs to be addressed immediately. Family disputes are a source of pain for our children and have caused enormous difficulties that adversely impact the welfare of our society. When a son or a daughter is raised in a broken home, or when he or she has to live in a miserable atmosphere devoid of love and comfort, no one should expect them to be perfect children or ideal students. Such stressful conditions can create psychological problems, and children become violent and their studies suffer. What is happening nowadays is tragic.

We have prided ourselves on our strong family ties, and we have paid great respect to the institution of marriage. It will be a great shame if we do not stop the erosion of our family values and allow the disintegration of our family system.

There are many reasons behind the rising rate of divorce. Social scientists conclude that women are no longer willing to put up with abusive husbands, and some of our young women are arrogant and have no sense of responsibility. Researchers say the rights of women should be respected, and domestic abuse criminalized. They stress the need for laws to be put in place to protect women and children in order to safeguard a life of dignity for all family members. There have been several national symposiums and conferences that addressed these social ills; however, their recommendations have not had an impact on society, and young Saudi couples are still in desperate need of proper guidance that would help them confront these issues.

The increase in juvenile drug addiction is of great concern. More than 900 addicted children, aged 8-17, were placed in correctional facilities across the Kingdom last year. Based on the statistics of the Ministry of Interior, there were 31,519 drug cases in 2006 — an increase of 2,282 cases over the preceding year. Drug addiction is also increasing among women. According to the Women’s Division at the Narcotics Directorate, about three percent of Saudi addicts are women.

The rise in juvenile delinquency also is very alarming. Social scientists believe this is due to a lack of parental guidance and social upbringing. They stress that the failure of parents to communicate with their children causes the negative behavior. Many children and teenagers turn to mischief out of boredom. Moreover, rigid interpretations of Islam far removed from reality and contradicting social values cause the moral degradation of our youth.

However, parents are not the only ones to blame. Religious scholars need to preach moderate Islam to win back our youth and instill in them the true morals of our religion. The government should provide appropriate sports facilities or perhaps encourage the construction of movie theaters to introduce a spirit of fun and joy in the lives of our kids. Top priority should be given to the creation of healthy entertainment for our young people. Parks should be available in every district for children to enjoy outdoor activities, and community centers should be established to provide an outlet for youngsters to meet and exercise under the supervision of counselors and sports trainers.

The media must play a greater role in highlighting these challenges and threats. Researchers warn against modern-day technologies accessible to children without proper adult supervision. The majority of children in our society have free access to Internet sites unsuitable for their age.

Many abuse the use of Bluetooth services on cell phones. Some are given mobiles at a very early age. Some acquire very aggressive behavior from violent computer games that are provided by disinterested parents. The ignorance and negligence of parents have caused the spread of violence, blackmail, sexual disorders and drug and alcohol addiction over the past few years. In order to confront this trend, the media has a responsibility to raise awareness among parents and stress the need for adult supervision to protect our youngsters from the negative impacts of these technologies.

Moreover, the threat of terrorism still exists. The media must keep parents alert to the dangers of manipulative terrorists, criminals and addicts. Social scientists advise parents to engage in dialogue with their children and discuss ideological and behavioral issues in order to gain a better understanding of their frustrations as well as needs. Such discussions prevent terrorists from jeopardizing the safety and harmony of our families.

Our government should be doing more to eradicate poverty and provide better wages for our young population. We need to give hope to the young and allow them to start families and live in decent conditions. If our youth cannot find employment, they will resort to theft and other criminal activities to survive. A recent study revealed that unemployment and the spread of drug abuse among Saudi youth are the main reasons for the increase in crime.

The majority of robbers were found to be secondary school certificate holders. Their economic conditions were bad, and two-thirds of them did not even have shelter. Our government officials should accelerate reforms and devise better strategies to overcome these problems if they are to succeed in their campaign against crime and terrorism.

The disintegration of the Saudi family is an alarming threat that should be addressed more seriously; the government, the media, religious leaders and social scientists need to raise the alarm and work harder to protect this generation before it is too late. Such steps would create a better social environment for our young people, but they will be meaningless if parents do not shoulder the responsibility of giving their youngsters the guidance they should be getting at home. That requires involvement with their children every day and a loving, caring home environment; otherwise, the disintegration of Saudi families will continue, and we will long for the days when we could have made a difference.

-- Samar Fatany, Arab News