More women in whitecoats, courtrooms and cabinet

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Two-thirds of the doctors in the Kingdom are now women, along with more than 80 per cent of nurses. This is according to the latest report published by the Supreme Council for Women.

The report, which marks a clear shift from 2007, says that six in ten public sector jobs are now in the hands of Bahraini women.

This is also the highest level recorded so far, with women holding 64% of specialist roles.

To put this in perspective: back in 2007, fewer than four in ten government employees were women.

The report, covering the year 2025, shows steady progress in areas that were once mostly male-dominated.

57% in universities and law firms

In universities—both public and private—women now hold 57% of teaching posts. Five years ago, that number was 49%.

The legal field shows a similar trend. Today, 57% of Bahraini lawyers are women, compared to a fifty-fifty split just ten years ago.

Still behind in judiciary and engineering

The number of women in engineering has gone up to 37%, from 30% in 2017.

The judiciary, however, is still largely male. Women make up 14% of judges—but that's still a big jump from when they had almost no presence in the courts.

Half the executives are women

Women have also made big strides in leadership.

They now hold half of all executive-level jobs in the public sector, and nearly two-thirds of specialist roles.

In the Cabinet formed in 2022, four out of ten ministers are women.

In the private sector, progress is slower but steady. Women now fill 36% of executive roles, up from 34% five years ago.

A fifth of Parliament and 25% in Shura

In Parliament, eight women won seats in the last election, giving them a fifth of the chamber.

The Shura Council has a slightly higher share, with 25% women members.

In municipal councils in Muharraq, Northern, and Southern governorates, women hold three of the thirty seats. In the Capital Secretariat, that number rises to 40%.

New plans on the way

To build on these gains, the Council has rolled out a new plan for 2025 and 2026.

The plan covers four key areas: work, family, decision-making, and daily living.

It includes steps to help more women get jobs, start small businesses, and have a stronger voice in public life.

Another goal is to support women balancing work and family, and to improve conditions for households where women are the main breadwinners.

The plan brings together efforts from government, businesses, and community groups, with the Supreme Council for Women in charge of tracking progress.

So far, 41 projects have been launched, with progress measured against 71 criteria.

The programme runs under the slogan:

“Women: A Worthy Partner in Nation Building.”

A gender balance model has also been introduced to make sure the plan is working. It includes rules, funding, training, inspection, and tracking of results.