Manama: The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) announced the opening of registrations for the 8th cycle of the HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Award for the Advancement of the Bahraini Woman for the years 2024 to 2026.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the award, established by Decree (5) of 2004, is named in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and President of the SCW. It is designed to encourage ministries, governmental and private institutions, civil society, and individuals to propose initiatives and implement programs that showcase women's achievements in various development sectors and contribute to Bahrain's progress.
This initiative was the first launched by Her Royal Highness in her role as President of the SCW, with the aim of bolstering women's positions, promoting gender balance, and recognising initiatives that support the progress of Bahraini women. The award has been internationally recognised, with the national model adopted by UN Women, leading to the creation of a global edition known as the HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women's Empowerment, launched in 2015 at the UN Women's headquarters in New York.
Since its inception, the award has served as a national platform highlighting success stories and pioneering experiences, motivating institutions to incorporate gender equality and empowerment into their policies. It also aims to ensure women's needs are integrated into national development plans and promote their leadership roles in decision-making.
The award has significantly impacted Bahrain's regional and international reputation, positioning the nation as a leader in initiatives promoting equal opportunities. The award has inspired other countries to develop programs enhancing women's participation in public, professional, and family life.
Participation in the award has grown from 30 entries in its first cycle to 356 in the seventh, highlighting its role in encouraging institutions to assess their policies' effectiveness in promoting gender balance. The award committee, chaired by Lulwa Saleh Al Awadhi, Secretary General of the SCW, sets the criteria for nomination categories and submits recommendations to Her Royal Highness for approval. An accredited international jury oversees the final selection process.
Throughout the award cycles, participating institutions have adopted practices supporting women's progress, such as administrative policies facilitating work-life balance. Examples include the Ministry of Education's policy on enrolling teachers' children in the same school and private sector institutions offering health insurance tailored for female employees.
The award has also promoted gender equality in training, capacity development, and women's participation in leadership roles. Notable initiatives include the Ministry of Interior enabling female officers to enter specialised fields and private sector initiatives like the CEO Award for Women's Empowerment at the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.
In the seventh cycle, winners included the Ministry of Health in the public sector, Tamkeen (Labour Fund) among official institutions, and BAPCO Refining in the large companies category. Other winners were Mumtaz Holdings, Bahrain Exports Company, the Bahrain Diabetes Society, and Dr. Amal Abdulrahman Al Jowder in the individual category.