By- Dr. Suad Yassin
The progress and excellence achieved by Bahraini women in various fields are a clear indication of the care and attention of His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, which is one of the fruits of the democratic approach that emphasizes the preservation and preservation of women’s rights and their firm role in supporting the national action process.
Bahrain enjoys openness and making room for Bahraini women in education since ancient times, education was based on books to learn to read the Qur’an side by side with men, and there is no discrimination between them in participating in public life, as the Bahraini government granted equal opportunities to women in education, the first school was opened in 1919, and in 1928 a school for girls was established. Over the decades, Bahrain has made great progress in empowering women, promoting their rights and political, economic and social participation, and achieving gender equality in all fields. Her participation played a major role when the Supreme National Committee was formed to prepare the draft National Action Charter in 2000.
Since the issuance of the royal decree establishing the Supreme Council for Women in 2001 under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of the country’s King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, national strategies for the advancement of Bahraini women have been developed in cooperation with various institutions and bodies to strengthen the Council’s role as a key body for the empowerment and development of women’s capacities. It has updated the Council’s organizational structure, enhanced its capabilities and expanded its work to include all aspects of women’s lives and concern for the family The role and rights of women in Bahrain, in cooperation with local and international bodies, are continuing through many initiatives and programmes to empower women and sustain their progress. One of the most significant international achievements was the election of the lawyer Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa to the presidency of the General Assembly during its sixty-first session, as the first Arab woman to preside over the Assembly.
Since its inception, the Supreme Council for Women has endeavoured to provide financial, training and advisory support to women who need legal advice or are seeking to establish their own enterprises and develop their own entrepreneurship. The support has contributed to proving their success in new areas and in ministerial and leadership positions in the State, including those of Minister and Under-Secretary. In areas in which she has never worked, such as the judiciary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the chairmanship of boards of directors of economic companies. In recognition of and honour for the progress of women, there has been a generous initiative by Her Highness Royal Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa May God protect her by dedicating a National Day for Bahraini Women on 1 December of each year, which coincided in 2008 with the 80th anniversary of the start of formal education for women under the umbrella of the main theme of the event, “Read, Learn, Share” within the framework of equal opportunities and gender balance plans in government bodies.
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By Dr. Suad Yassin – Chairman of Al Yassin Training Center
