Dr. Maha Al Muneef is a renowned pediatrician and child abuse expert from Saudi Arabia. She is the founder and executive director of the National Family Safety Program (NFSP), which is dedicated to preventing domestic violence and child abuse in Saudi Arabia.
From 2009 to 2013, Al-Muneef 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. Maha Al-Muneef was also awarded the 2014 International Women of Courage Award for this humanitarian work. She could not attend the ceremony, so Barack Obama awarded her the prize in Saudi Arabia in April 2014.
The NFSP was created in 2005 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.
In addition to her work with the National Family Safety Program, Dr. Al-Muneef has also served as the head of the Child Protection Unit at King Saud University Hospital in Riyadh. In this role, she has helped to develop new protocols and guidelines for the identification and treatment of child abuse victims, and has trained countless healthcare professionals on how to recognize and respond to cases of child abuse.
Dr. Al-Muneef's work has been recognized both nationally and internationally. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to child welfare, including the King Abdulaziz Medal of the First Order, which is one of the highest honors in Saudi Arabia.
Despite facing many challenges and obstacles in her work, Dr. Al-Muneef has remained dedicated to her mission of protecting children and promoting their rights. Her tireless efforts have helped to create a safer and more just society for children in Saudi Arabia and beyond.