Bahrain hails SCW’s women empowerment march

TDT | Manama

Congratulations poured in from all quarters of the Kingdom for Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women (SCW) yesterday on the occasion of the council celebrating the 19th anniversary of its establishment. The council, considered as the apex authority of all official bodies related to women affairs in the Kingdom, was established in the year 2001 on 22nd August based on a royal decree.

Congratulating and hailing SCW’s achievements yesterday were top officials, envoys, parliamentarians and several others. SCW, a guarantor of women’s rights: Dr Shaikha Rana In a message, Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Member of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), hailed the continuing efforts of the SCW in preserving women’s right in the Kingdom.

SCW worked to “guarantee women’s rights alongside men in all fields, with a high sense of responsibility and competence,” said Shaikha Rana highlighting the role of the committees for equal opportunities and national gender equity programme in securing women’s right to justice and equality in the society.

The Undersecretary pledged on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue working to enhance the status of Bahraini women and highlight their achievement. SCW enhanced women’s role, says Speaker Representatives Council Speaker Fawzia bint Abdulla Zainal said, “SCW’s innovative initiatives, viable strategies and plans, based on an equal partnership” enhanced women’s role in national development march.”

In this regard, she commended the government’s efforts chaired by HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and hailed the support of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

Fruits of the pioneering reform project: Al-Saleh Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, in a statement, described the establishment of SCW as “one of the fruits of the pioneering reform project, initiated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa to promote women’s rights and engage them in national development.”

Al-Saleh said the achievement of SCW ensured the progress of Bahraini women and bolstered their pivotal role in spearheading social development. Separately, Dr Bahia Jawad Al Jishi, the Bahraini Ambassador to Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Denmark, and Representative to the European Union and NATO, hailed the progress achieved by Bahraini women in Bahrain’s society as the result of constant care of “His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa”.

The apex authority Headquartered in Riffa, under the guidance of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, SCW enjoys the jurisdiction to express an opinion in all matter, both direct and indirect, concerning the position of women in the Kingdom.

The authority’s mission is to “empower Bahraini women and merge their needs in the development programmes to ensure the sustainability of their family stability and familial bond.” SCW ensures equal opportunity, diverse opportunities, competitiveness and lifelong learning to enhance the quality of the life of women in the Kingdom.

Princess Sabeeka chairs the council which includes not less than 16 members, representing public female figures experienced in women’s affairs. SCW enhanced development of Bahraini families: Al Zayani Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry’s Undersecretary for Planning, Family Reconciliation and Alimony, Dana Khamis Abdulrahman Al Zayani, in a statement, hailed the pivotal role played by SCW in uplifting Bahraini women’s status in the society.

Al Zayani said that SCW is also playing an important role in the national campaign to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the Kingdom, citing its humanitarian campaigns, including the “Together for the Safety of Bahrain” campaign which has been appreciated by everyone.

The council, Al Zayani said, had presented several projects in cooperation with the Justice ministry, the most prominent being the opening of “Family Reconciliation Office’ in Muharraq and Sitra, which helped in resolving many disputes and reaching out-of-court settlements. Al-Zayani stressed that the SCW had harnessed its potentials to enhance the development of the Bahraini families.

She pointed out that the strong constructive competition among public and private institutions, in addition to individuals to win the “Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Award for Bahraini Women Advancement” reflects Bahrain’s success in moving from the “empowerment” stage to the “advancement” of women stage, as shown clearly in the programmes and initiatives implemented by various institutions to support women and achieve the gender balance, based on merit and competence.