4/1 It is prohibited for the parents of the child or the person responsible for their care to allow them to beg or to exploit them in that or in any unlawful activity.
4/2 Relevant authorities, upon apprehending any child who is begging or has been exploited by others in unlawful activities, must take appropriate measures to protect the child and ensure that they do not fall into such situations again. If the child is not Saudi and does not have a family to care for them, coordination with their home country is required for their repatriation, while continuing to provide assistance and support until their departure from Saudi territory.
4/3 In the event that the child is out of the control of their parents or the person responsible for their care, a social and psychological assessment of their situation must be conducted by the relevant authority at the Ministry of Social Affairs. The child should be heard, and their parents or guardians should be summoned to discuss the child's situation and determine whether the causes are due to the child themselves, their parents, guardians, or the surrounding environment, followed by preparing the appropriate recommendations for their case for approval and ensuring its implementation.
4/4 If the child is accustomed to running away from home or educational or care institutions, or sleeping in places not designated for residence or overnight stays, or frequenting morally or socially questionable places, or places inappropriate for their age, or associating with vagrants or corrupt individuals, the following actions must be taken:
A - Anyone who is aware of the child being in any of the aforementioned situations must report it.
B - Upon receiving the report, the relevant authority must communicate with the child and their parents or guardians to understand the reasons and whether there is any negligence on their part.
C - If there is negligence or harm from the parents or one of them, or from the guardian responsible for the child's care, they should be summoned for discussion and a commitment should be taken from them not to neglect the child or fail to supervise or guide them. In case of recurrence, they will be warned that the matter will be referred to the Public Prosecution and Investigation Authority.
D - If it is determined that the causes are due to the child themselves or their surrounding environment, the relevant authority at the Ministry of Social Affairs will conduct a social and psychological assessment of their situation, after listening to and discussing with them, and then prepare the appropriate recommendations for their case for approval and ensure its implementation.
E - If the child's parents are separated and custody is granted to one of them, and it is evident that the child's care, upbringing, and behavioral correction can be achieved by transferring them to the other parent, this will be done temporarily by a decision from the relevant authority at the Ministry of Social Affairs, and their case will be immediately referred to the court that issued the custody ruling, accompanied by its opinion for a legal resolution.
F - If the child's life is in danger or if they have been sexually assaulted by one of the parents or the guardian, alternative care must be provided for them outside the family urgently and temporarily, until their case is reviewed.
4/5 If the child is found engaging in activities related to prostitution, immorality, gambling, drugs, or similar activities, or serving those who engage in such activities, the parents or guardians will be summoned and questioned about this; if it is found that they were aware and silent or that they were the ones who pushed the child to engage in such activities, appropriate care will be provided for the child with one of their relatives if available, or they will be placed with alternative families or care institutions. Necessary actions will be taken against the parents or one of them, as applicable, or against the person responsible for the child's care, and the relevant authorities will be notified to close those questionable places and complete the legal procedures against them.
4/6 If it is proven that there is no negligence or shortcoming on the part of the parents or one of them, or the person responsible for the child's care, a commitment will be taken from the parents or one of them to maintain the child's welfare and not to neglect them.
5/1 The interests of the child shall be taken into account by the relevant authorities, and priority shall be given to them over others regarding the provision of shelter services, assistance, psychological, social, health, and security support.
5/2 The child shall be prioritized over others in receiving prevention and relief during natural disasters, wars, or similar circumstances.
5/3 The relevant authorities shall work to ensure that the child with an Impediment, whether mental or physical, receives special care for a full and dignified life, in conditions that guarantee their dignity, enhance their self-reliance, and facilitate their actual participation in society, while ensuring their education and training.
5/4 The relevant authorities shall work to ensure that the child with an Impediment receives health care services, rehabilitation services, preparation for employment, recreational opportunities, and that these are provided in a manner that leads to the social integration of the child and their individual development, including their cultural and mental growth.
5/5 The relevant authorities shall work to ensure the exchange of appropriate information among themselves in the field of preventive health care and medical, psychological, and occupational treatment for children. They shall also work to disseminate information related to rehabilitation programs, professional services, and their accessibility, with the aim of enabling these authorities to improve their capabilities, skills, working mechanisms, and expand their experiences in these areas.
6/1 The relevant authorities shall ensure the child's right to life and strive to protect him from all forms of abuse and neglect, enabling him to enjoy his rights as prescribed by Sharia and regulations.
6/2 The relevant authorities shall propose appropriate preventive measures to protect the child from abuse or neglect and work to implement those measures that fall within their jurisdiction.
6/3 With due regard to the provisions of this Regulation, all authorities dealing with cases of child abuse or neglect must consider the following rules:
1- The best interest of the child must be considered in all actions taken to protect him from abuse and to enable him to enjoy his rights.
2- Cases of child abuse or neglect should be handled according to standards that allow for the differentiation between serious abuse or neglect and potential or ordinary or repeated abuse or neglect in daily life, so that assistance, treatment, protection, or shelter or hosting is provided as necessary according to the type of abuse the child has been subjected to.
3- Care must be taken to ensure that resorting to any of the means used for treatment does not cause greater harm to the child, nor affect his family or living situation, and the competent authority at the Ministry of Social Affairs must be keen to find conciliatory solutions that protect the child, deter the source of the violation or abuse, and prevent its recurrence.