Supreme Council for Women: A celebration of remarkable achievements

Manama, Aug. 22 (BNA): With the appointment on Thursday of Dr Bahiya Al Jishi as Head of the Diplomatic Mission to Belgium, Bahrain has demonstrated that the forward-looking progress of Bahraini women towards a more vibrant future will continue with enthusiasm and determination. Bahrain, often cited as a pioneer in the region in championing women’s rights, has been actively advocating and implementing a greater and more rewarding political, economic and social empowerment of women across all areas. mainly thanks to the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), which, as it celebrates today its 14th anniversary, has every reason to be proud of its outstanding contributions and remarkable achievements. In fact, such an empowerment of women has become a way of life ever since the Council, headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, was founded on August 22, 2001. As the official body in charge of elevating the legal, social, economic and political status of women in Bahrain, it has been following a carefully calibrated strategy to help ensure the best living conditions and the highest standards for Bahraini women. The challenges in the initial phases looked strong, but the determination of the Council was stronger and impressive plans were drawn up to deal with all situations and to confront difficulties. The composition of the Council was the first robust indication that it would be not a mere decoration and that it would strive hard and diligently in order to make a huge positive difference in the lives of thousands of women and families. The Council is headed by Bahrain’s First Lady HRH Princess Sabeeka who has, since her marriage in 1968, launched and overseen several initiatives to enhance the quality of life for Bahraini families, mainly those with limited income and with special needs. Distinguished by her considerable contributions towards national efforts to empower Bahraini women and to ensure their active role as equal partners in building the nation, HRH has been the major architect in the remarkably positive changes towards the presence and role of women in public institutions and in private companies. She was also the major force behind the various drives to support women politically, socially and economically through a multitude of high-level workshops, training programmes and consultations. The 16 members of the Council represent all the segments of the Bahraini society, thus ensuring that all components are present physically and mentally in all the decisions and plans to elevate the status of women in the Kingdom. They have considerable experience in dealing with matters and issues pertaining to women. The General Secretariat of the Council, headed by Hala Al Ansari, aims to activate its prerogatives, to draw up plans and programmes related to women, to achieve goals and to convey its decisions to the competent authorities. Such administrative structure and responsibilities meant that the Council was determined to act with perseverance and determination on its pledges to propose public policy to advance women’s status in the constitutional and civil organizations and to empower them to carry out their role in public life without any form of discrimination against them. As it draws up a national plan to improve the situation of women and address the problems they face in various fields, the Council also works on the implementation of the women-related principles laid down in the National Action Charter and the constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as setting up the necessary mechanisms in collaboration with ministries, official organizations and civil society organizations. The Council has the right to put forward proposals for amending existing legislations related to women and to express views on draft laws and decisions dealing with women before they are submitted to the concerned authority. The Council may also recommend the draft laws and decisions required to improve the status of women. The Council follows up the application of laws, resolutions and international conventions regarding women, to ensure their implementation without discrimination against them. It can also follow up the women-related programmes included in the government plans. Thus, the Council takes part in the official bodies and committees formed by the government to address women’s issues and represents Bahraini women in national, regional and International forums and organizations. It can also enter into agreements of joint cooperation programmes with these organizations. The Council holds conferences, seminars and discussions about women-related issues and works on raising social awareness on women’s role, rights and duties. Economically, the Council has launched Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Fund in support of commercial activities for women. The BD 2 million fund was established through cooperation between the Council, Tamkeen (Labour Fund) and Ebdaa Bank in order to encourage women to achieve their ambitions through the implementation of their business from home or develop their existing projects through the provision of micro-financing loans. The Development Centre for Bahraini Women was established as an initiative to create opportunities to encourage women to start their own projects or to inspire them to expand their existing projects from small to medium. The centre serves as a business incubator for women and offers integrated administrative, training and consultative services to entrepreneurs. Politically, the Political Empowerment Programme was started in April 2005 after the Council developed the Women Political Empowerment Programme, one of the main pillars of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women, seeking to support the political participation of women in the country's development, and to provide intellectual, and technical aid to women with the ability and will to undertake the responsibility of the political life. The programme ultimately seeks to ensure women's active participation in national development, steer women to decision making positions and change stereotypes about women in society. In September last year, HM King Hamad once more stressed Bahrain’s support to the empowerment of women. “Bahrain is constantly striving to involve women alongside men in the nation-building process based on the belief that women are a key element in the development of the country,” HM King Hamad said. “Bahrain is also eager to open wider areas for Bahraini women to serve their country in the political, economic and social areas. Bahraini women are efficient and competent and they have an important role in the development and prosperity of their homeland and in bringing up their children and offering them sound guidance,” HM the King said. Bahrain today has several women who hold high positions as parliamentarians, ministers, judges, ambassadors, diplomats, pilots and executives. The future, thanks to the dedicated efforts and devoted perseverance of the Supreme Council for Women, looks even brighter.