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The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is dedicated to raising awareness of the problem of domestic violence and other forms of violence that women face. Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported various women’s empowerment campaigns, with the aim of shedding light on domestic violence.

Below are some of the campaigns launched by Alwaleed Philanthropies over the years.

Your silence is a sign of satisfaction

The “Your Silence is a Sign of Consent” campaign is an awareness campaign that aims to reduce violence against women, and seeks to educate women about their legal rights and empower them psychologically and legally. This campaign was launched across social media platforms with the aim of providing valuable information and advice to women on how to protect themselves and confront violence.

Launched in 2016, the campaign has reached over 30 million interactions and has been recognized by Ads of the World for its power and impact. The campaign is part of Alwaleed Philanthropies’ efforts to end violence against women and promote equality and justice.

I am not a victim

“I am not a victim” is a campaign showcasing one of Alwaleed Philanthropies’ initiatives known as “Wa’eyah,” a project that aims to raise awareness of Saudi women’s legal rights to help stop them from being subjected to violence. The campaign emphasizes the importance of taking action by reporting cases of violence through the Wa’eyah app, which is run by specialized Saudi female lawyers. The campaign was launched in 2021 and has reached over 30 million impressions, making a significant impact.

In line with the work of Alwaleed Philanthropies, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, in the field of women’s legal empowerment, and in continuation of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in economic development and digital transformation, a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to build a joint training program for female lawyers in the field of data, artificial intelligence, and the technologies that enable them to launch the first batch of Saudi female lawyers specializing in data.

In continuation of the Wa’iah initiative represented by Faisal Al-Tayeh Law Firm, the seventh phase was launched in training and empowering male and female lawyers, aiming to empower women in legal aspects, spread legal culture and awareness, provide consultations, adopt cases, represent women before courts and competent authorities, and train male and female lawyers.

The two agreements are keen to support women’s empowerment in the Kingdom to address all the challenges they face in economic and social development, believing in the importance of highlighting the pioneering role of the wise leadership - may God protect it - in the field of empowering Saudi women and supporting their participation in national development paths, through launching a comprehensive program aimed at spreading digital awareness and knowledge and qualifying highly qualified national cadres to advance the digital transformation process, in addition to empowering trainees in the field of personal data protection and global best practices.

The two agreements were signed in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, Ms. Najla Al-Jaid, Executive Director of Local Initiatives at the Foundation, Eng. Saad Mohammed Al-Qarni, CEO of Sedaya Academy, and Mr. Faisal Al-Taie, General Manager of Faisal Al-Taie Law Firm.

Over the course of 4 decades, Alwaleed Philanthropies has provided support and spent more than 16 billion Saudi Riyals on social welfare programs, and implemented more than 1,000 projects in more than 189 countries around the world, led by 10 Saudi women; reaching more than 1 billion beneficiaries regardless of gender, race or religion. The Foundation collaborates with a group of charitable, governmental and non-governmental organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop local communities, provide disaster relief, and create cultural understanding through education.

In Saudi Arabia, a pioneering initiative known as Wa3ya has emerged, revolutionizing legal education and empowering women. Not only does it spread legal awareness, it also provides a powerful voice for women facing violence, abuse, and other challenges. Wa3ya supports female lawyers in enhancing their skills and offers an interactive app for free legal consultations, making legal aid accessible to everyone, even in remote villages.

Partnerships for Progress

The Waa’i initiative collaborates with key partners including Faisal Al-Taie Law Firm, the Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development represented by the Care and Hospitality Centers for Girls, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the General Administration for Protection from Domestic Violence, Asir Development Authority, and Prince Sultan Humanitarian City. These partnerships enhance the impact of the initiative by combining resources and expertise to enhance legal education, support female lawyers, address issues of violence and cybercrime, and improve women’s quality of life.

Unified efforts against domestic violence

In 2023, the Waaia team has made significant progress. They have managed over 150 cases and advised on an additional 150 cases, with legal consultations exceeding 1,000 consultations, whether through in-person consultations, phone consultations or via the Waaia app. This demonstrates their commitment to providing and easily accessing legal support and empowering women to face legal challenges with confidence.

Reaching rural communities

In collaboration between the Asir Development Authority and Alwaleed Philanthropies, a special program was developed within the Wa3iah 7 initiative, targeting remote villages that suffer from increased crime, ignorance, and educational challenges. After scouting tours and several meetings, a group of remote villages were identified for the program. The implementation included cooperation with female lawyers and legal specialists in the targeted villages. A program was also organized in an orphanage in Asir, which witnessed violent events, based on the trust of the concerned parties, which led to the implementation of a comprehensive program that includes psychological, social, and legal aspects.

Continue the journey

As Waaie continues her journey, the initiative stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, knowledge and commitment in empowering Saudi women and building a more just and inclusive society.

In partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, the founding study for the Scout Leaders Qualification Project at King Khalid University, the Asir Region Development Authority, and the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association was launched. The project will be held during February 15-19, 2024 at the university campus in Al-Faraa.

In detail, the Dean of the Deanship of Student Affairs at the University, Dr. Ali bin Misfir Al-Qahtani, explained that the project comes as an activation of the cooperation agreement between King Khalid University, represented by the Deanship of Student Affairs, and Alwaleed Philanthropies Foundation; to activate the role of community partnership and enable volunteering.

The project’s objectives include qualifying and establishing scouting for female leaders, establishing female scouting clans at the university, training them on the principles and basics of scouting, as well as practicing various scouting activities that meet the needs of scouting at the university, in addition to strengthening the university’s role in spreading the women’s scouting movement locally and internationally.

The foundational study includes a number of theoretical and practical topics, sessions and activities.

The theoretical part of the study will be held over three days, including knowledge workshops on scouting organizations and their local, Arab and international basics, familiarity with various scouting curricula, in addition to training courses to learn the best scouting leadership practices and methods of applying them.

The practical study sessions will run over two days, and will include proper practical planning for scouting unit activities, protection from harm in scouting, practical practice of scouting rope arts, and an accompanying hiking trip, concluding with a session to discuss ideas and challenges.

It is noteworthy that the Scout Leaders Qualification Project is the first of its kind in the specialized Scout programs for female university students, and in its founding phase, it aims to qualify 24 female Scout leaders from the university and the Education Department in the Asir region.

Over the course of 4 decades, Alwaleed Philanthropies has supported and spent over 16.5 billion Saudi Riyals on social welfare programs, and implemented over 1,000 projects in over 190 countries around the world led by 10 Saudi women; reaching over 1 billion beneficiaries regardless of gender, race or religion. The Foundation collaborates with a range of charitable, governmental and non-governmental organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop local communities, provide disaster relief, create cultural understanding and develop a sustainable environment.