Bahrain Showcases Princess Sabeeka Global Award for Women’s Empowerment at UN Event in New York

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women, H.E. Lulwa Saleh Al Awadhi, affirmed that the Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment is one of Bahrain’s most distinguished international initiatives. The award is directed to government ministries, private sector organizations, civil society institutions, and individuals worldwide, with the aim of supporting and encouraging efforts to empower women.

She made these remarks during a side event organized by the Kingdom of Bahrain, in cooperation with UN Women, to promote the third edition of the award. The event was held on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly at UN Women headquarters in New York, marking the official launch of applications for participation.

Al Awadhi emphasized Bahrain’s commitment to adopting rigorous and scientific methodologies in line with global standards for the award. She highlighted the careful selection of an international jury with extensive expertise in women’s advancement and empowerment. She also extended appreciation to the jury members for their dedication in monitoring the award process according to transparent and fair criteria.

The Secretary-General expressed confidence that the third edition of the award will shed light on innovative initiatives and impactful contributions that empower women and girls globally. She noted that the recognition of such achievements would provide valuable models that can be replicated across various fields and regions.

During the event, participants were presented with a detailed overview of the award’s objectives, criteria, and participation mechanisms, followed by a promotional film documenting its journey since its launch in 2017.

Dr. Moez Doraid, Acting Regional Director of UN Women for the Arab States, also delivered remarks. He praised the strong partnership between UN Women and Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women in advancing women’s empowerment. He described the Princess Sabeeka Award as a pioneering initiative that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and highlighted its positive impact on past winners across different countries.

Dr. Doraid also noted Bahrain’s recent election to the Executive Board of UN Women for the 2026–2028 term, underlining the importance of this membership in shaping the organization’s strategies and future plans. He further commended Bahrain’s contributions to the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference on Women (Beijing+30).

Highlighting the award’s tangible outcomes, he pointed to the successes achieved at both national and international levels, with previous winners representing countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Egypt, and Brazil.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Doraid called on governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to submit applications across the award’s four categories, stressing the importance of continued global collaboration to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality.