Women key to achieving family stability and security in society: Hala Al Ansari

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The family stability and cohesion theme tops the priorities of the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women.

This was emphasised by Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Secretary General Hala Al Ansari.

It highlights Bahrain’s experience in this regard, whose operations are spearheaded by the SCW, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King.

Al Ansari indicated that the work plans and initiatives of this theme have been designed in accordance with a scientific method, based on national indices and international comparisons, as well as creating interconnected relationships between the impact of family stability on societal security and the increased participation of women in public life and national economy.

Al Ansari made the statements while participating as a keynote speaker in the fourth edition of the Saudi Family Forum, held in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

She praised the directives of the Saudi government to pave the way for women’s influential participation in their country’s development process, becoming real partners in making the kingdom’s present and future.

Al Ansari said that the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the health, economic and social levels require accelerated reviews and treatments, as indicated by the report of the Economic and Social Council of the UN General Assembly on the implementation of the goals of the International Day of Families 2021.

She noted that many countries have put in place exceptional measures to contain the life difficulties faced by the family, specifically in the field of reconciling family and work responsibilities, positive upbringing of children and increasing the participation of fathers in carrying out family tasks.

Al Ansari indicated that the work of the SCW in partnership with its national allies has been based on three main pillars.

The first is the revision and development of laws, as well as bridging the gaps that affect the legal status of family members to ensure they are consistent with the Constitution’s provisions on eliminating all forms of discrimination and reaching justice, while taking the specific family relations into account.

The second is the development and implementation of quality policies and strategies to translate legislation and laws into the ground, by integrating the Bahraini family needs in the kingdom’s development process through initiatives and programmes to empower families and enable them to take control of their affairs, in line with the goals set in the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

As to the third, it is connecting the efforts of the kingdom in the field of women empowerment and advancement with the sustainable development goals.

In her speech, Al Ansari gave examples of the national efforts to develop Bahraini families and enhance the level of their stability, such as the issuance of the Family Law, the designation of special buildings for family courts and fast-tracking the litigation process to reduce pressure on such courts.