International conference on women in public life kicks off

Manama, Dec. 8 (BNA): Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), patronised today the opening of an international conference themed "Women in Public Life: From Policies to Impact" which is co-organised by SCW and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). SCW Secretary General Hala Ansari pointed out in her opening speech Bahrain's national strategy to empower Bahraini women through well-defined plans and partnership between the public and private sectors, the civil society institutions and international organisations. She said SCW had adopted an approach based on continuous folllow-up and assessment of growing social awareness and its impact on communal practice. She pointed out Bahrain's experience in integrating women's needs in the development process while taking into consideration Islamic and social values. The SCW Secretary General praised OECD support and monitoring of the improved status of Arab women, lauding choosing Bahrain to host the major conference which, she said, will help explore new opportunities to further empower women all over the worlld. On her part, OECD Deputy Secretary General Mari Kiviniemi said attending the conference in Bahrain aims to closely follow-up on progress in implementing policies of gender equality in Bahrain, the Middle East and North Africa. She stressed the need to speed up shifting from policy mapping to applying and studying their effect. She said the conference will bring under the spotlight integrating women's needs in general policies, stressing that gender equality is of paramount importance for comprehensive economic development. She praised the effective participation of SCW in all symposiums and workshops held by OECD over the past years, commending Bahrain's constitution which granted Bahraini women their political rights. Keynote speaker Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Mutawa, the Cabinet Affairs Minister, pointed out Bahrain's empowerment policies to integrate the needs of Bahraini women in development. He also underscored the role of SCW in this regard, pointing out contribution of Princess Sabeeka Award for the Empowerment of Bahraini Women in boosting the concept of women empowerment in public and private institutions.