Remembering feats of Bahraini women

Manama : The Bahraini Women’s Day, which is celebrated on December 1, commemorates the achievements of Bahraini women in the legal and judicial fields this year.

“Being the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to allow women to vote, and third country globally to have a female diplomat presiding at the UN General Assembly, Bahrain has made significant progress in increasing and strengthening women’s role in society and has much to celebrate on Bahrain’s Women’s Day,” said Wife of His Majesty the King & Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Chairwoman HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa in a statement issued by the council. 

On December 1 of every year, Bahrain recognises not only the historic contributions of women, but also their national and international achievements, said the statement.

This year’s Bahraini Women’s Day theme honours the participation of women in the judicial and legal fields, where SCW worked since 2001 to ensure the sustainability of the natural growth and development of women’s progress within the framework of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women, it added.

The appointment of the first Bahraini woman at ministerial rank in 2001 as the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women paved the way for numerous appointments to come; with women ministers in fields such as Social Development, Human Rights, Information, and Culture, the statement affirmed.

“Bahraini women today represent 9 per cent of judges, 55pc of lawyers, 53pc of government employees, 63pc in higher education and has attained global recognition, by being ranked first internationally, registering the fastest growth rate of women’s economic participation, as per the latest “Women in Business and Management” ILO Report, 2016. 

In addition, Bahrain also records an increase in women legislators, senior officials, and managers (from 13pc in 2015 to 22pc in 2016), as per the latest Global Gender Gap Report, released by the World Economic Forum, 2016,” the statement added.

Parliament Chairman Ahmed Al Mulla hailed the support granted by the Wise Leadership for Bahraini women in all fields.

He affirmed that allocating December 1 as an annual occasion reflects the Bahraini society’s appreciation and support to the achievements of women in the Kingdom.

The Speaker extended his appreciation to Bahraini women’s role in the development of the nation, especially in legislative and parliamentary fields.

On his part, Shura Council Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh stated that the occasion comes to commemorate the achievements of Bahraini women and their big role in the big development of the Kingdom.

Bahraini women have attained many accomplishments in the fields of judiciary and legal works in the past two decades, Al Saleh added, noting that the first female judge in GCC countries was appointed in Bahrain in the year 2006.

In a separate statement, Founding Member of the Arab Women Parliamentarians and former MP Ebtisam Hejres expressed her gratitude to the endless support extended by the Wise Leadership to Bahraini women in all fields.

The ex-MP underlined that the leadership has assisted Bahraini women overcome several obstacles that were in the path of their development for years. She also congratulated HRH Princess Sabeeka and Bahraini women in general on the special occasion.