Maha Al Muneef

Maha Al Muneef is the executive director of the National Family Safety Program (NFSP) in Saudi Arabia. She is a specialist in pediatric infectious disease, and has worked to spread awareness about domestic violence and victims of child abuse.^[1] From 2009-2013, Al Muneef also served as an adviser to Saudi Arabia's Consultative Council, the Shura Council. In August 2013, the Council of Ministers adopted landmark legislation to protect victims of domestic violence. Al Muneef and the National Family Safety Program played a role in drafting and advising on the "Protection from Abuse" law, which defines and criminalizes domestic violence for the first time in Saudi Arabia.^[2] Maha Al Muneef was also awarded the 2014 International Women of Courage Award for this humanitarian work in particular.

The NFSP was created in 2005 in order to combat domestic violence and child abuse in Saudi Arabia. The NFSP has developed advocacy programs, reported on domestic violence and child abuse statistics in Saudi Arabia, and led efforts to provide services for victims of abuse.^[1]

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