Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), has extended sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the 17th Anniversary of the National Action Charter.
Chairing the second meeting of the SCW's sixth session, held here today, HRH Princess Sabeeka voiced pride in the Bahraini women’s landmark achievements and gains emanating from NAC’s core principles, stressing that the SCW is proud of being one of NAC’s main fruits, and of being entrusted with implementing some of its principles.
During the same meeting, HRH Princess Sabeeka announced the theme of the Bahraini Women’s Day 2018, which will be devoted to honouring women in the legislative field and municipal work.
Bahrain women’s involvement in municipal work goes back to the 1920s when they took part in the first municipal elections held by Bahrain then.
The theme was also chosen to celebrate 20 years since Bahraini women entered the appointed Shura Council, and 15 years after their access to the elected Representatives Council and municipal councils.
The SCW said that in 2001, Bahraini women started enjoying their full political rights through the National Action Charter and the 2002 Constitution.
HRH Princess Sabeeka affirmed that this year’s theme reflects the great achievements attained by Bahraini women through their effective presence in the legislative and municipal councils, and well as their ability to enhance their contributions to public affairs and be involved effectively in political work.
In this regard, Princess Sabeeka cited Bahraini women’s qualitative contributions to preparing the National Action Charter, as well as to national efforts to follow up on implementing its provisions.
HRH Princess Sabeeka pointed out that honouring Bahraini women in the legislative field and municipal work coincides with the forthcoming municipal and parliamentary elections to be held in the kingdom later this year, expressing confidence that the move will highlight Bahraini women’s honourable image and milestone achievements in the legislative and municipal fields.
It is also an opportunity to shed light on the political maturity of the Bahraini society, whose members showed confidence in the Bahraini women’s ability to exercise their role as fully eligible citizens, she said, stressing the importance of effective participation of all relevant parties in honouring women in the legislative and municipal fields.
On the occasion SCW Secretary-General Hala Al-Ansari stated that the SCW, within its efforts to implement the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women, and integrating them in the national development programmes, has achieved 77 % of the requirements of National Model for Integrating Bahraini Women’s Needs in Development, and will continue the remaining requirements through the activation of the "Knowledge Management" and "Impact Measurement" themes.
The meeting endorsed a national report that monitors Bahraini women’s progress in state departments.
Al-Ansari added that the SCW, as part of its efforts to boost knowledge-based economy, has approved an electronic knowledge database for gender balance indicators to measure local, regional and international competitiveness rates in order to bridge gaps, and enhance Bahrain’s standing in the field of women advancement.
She also pointed out that the SCW was informed about the efforts being exerted to activate the mechanisms of the Bahraini women’s political participation programme, and approved an integrated programme for electoral preparation ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary and municipal elections.
The SCW Secretary-General renewed the kingdom’s commitment to submitting its fourth national report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to the relevant UN committee.
HRH Princess Sabeeka approved the report, which will be forwarded through the official channels, in line with the SCW’s keenness on honouring the kingdom’s pledges regarding international women-related conventions.
