Bahrain Participates in the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain took part in the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), represented by Lulwa Saleh Al Awadhi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). The session, taking place in New York, is chaired by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the ongoing struggles faced by women and girls in many countries, emphasizing the need for CSW to drive transformation and promote peace and dignity for women worldwide. Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, also underscored the importance of accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The session saw participation from key figures, including Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, and Collen Vixen Kelapile, President of the UN Economic and Social Council, as well as representatives from the European Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Arab Group. The event featured a political declaration marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and focused on evaluating the Beijing Declaration, advancing gender equality, and setting global standards for women's empowerment.

Al Awadhi attended a side event hosted by Kuwait titled "Women and Technology: Inspiring Stories from the GCC Countries," where Shaima Shawqi Al Meer, Senior Space Data Analyst at Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency (NSSA), shared insights into Bahraini women’s achievements in technology, emerging sciences, and innovation. She highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to empowering women in technology through initiatives in STEM fields and the establishment of a supportive startup ecosystem.

Al Meer noted that 63% of NSSA employees are women, with 50% holding executive roles and 43% in engineering positions. She also emphasized the Kingdom’s dedication to equipping women with future-ready skills in AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and data science, supporting sustainable development and economic growth.

During the GCC side event, Al Awadhi stressed that Gulf countries have influential economies and that women in the region enjoy equal opportunities and services. She also mentioned that there is no gender wage gap in the GCC, attributing rapid economic progress to gender-inclusive legislation.

Al Awadhi attended the "Mother of the Nation" exhibition, organized by the UAE, celebrating the contributions of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in advancing women’s empowerment. Bahrain’s delegation also participated in Saudi Arabia’s side event, "From Vision to Reality: Saudi Arabia’s Story of Women’s Empowerment," highlighting women’s progress under Vision 2030.

Additionally, Al Awadhi held a meeting with Dr. Moez Doraid, Regional Director of UN Women for the Arab States, to discuss preparations for the launch of the third edition of the Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment, set to launch on March 11 in New York as part of CSW69.