Manama: The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) announced the launch of the eighth edition of the HRH Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Award for Bahraini Women Empowerment. Established by Decree (5) of 2004, the award is named after Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the SCW, in honor of her dedication to enhancing the status and progress of Bahraini women.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the announcement was graced by the presence of several key ministers including Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information; Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transport and Telecommunications; Yusuf bin Abdulhussain Khalaf, Minister of Legal Affairs and Acting Minister of Labour; and Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health.
Lulwa Al Awadhi, Secretary-General of the SCW, emphasized the award's significance as the Council's pioneering initiative aimed at promoting women's empowerment. She stated that it inspires ministries, public institutions, private sector entities, and civil society organizations to implement programs that support women's advancement and gender balance. The award also acknowledges individual efforts that contribute to the progress of Bahraini women.
Al Awadhi further explained that the award acts as a practical tool to achieve equal opportunities and gender balance, recognizing excellence among various sectors. The evaluation process is based on achievements in supporting working women, integrating their needs into national development plans, and facilitating women's access to leadership and decision-making positions, following criteria set by the award committee.
She highlighted the award's international recognition, noting that the UN Women launched a global edition in New York in 2015, with its third cycle scheduled for March 2025. The national impact of the award is evident in the increased participation, growing from 30 entries in its first cycle to 356 in the seventh.
Al Awadhi pointed out best practices by participating institutions, such as policies supporting work-life balance for female employees. These include school placement initiatives for teachers' children, proximity transfers for those caring for dependents, health insurance covering women's health, and flexible training programs. Both government and private sectors have launched initiatives empowering women, including leadership roles in specialized fields and recognition awards for workplace advancement.
She also mentioned that the award serves as a national platform to support women's empowerment and recognize leading initiatives, with an international jury overseeing nominations and suggesting improvements.
Representatives from the seventh-cycle winners-Ministry of Health (government sector), Mumtalakat Holding Company (private sector), Bahrain Diabetes Society (civil society), and Dr. Amal Al Jowder (individual category)-shared their experiences and praised the award's role in empowering women. Award committee members also commented on the increasing participation rates and the positive impact on women assuming new and specialized roles within institutions.
The Secretary-General concluded by stating that the SCW is preparing a detailed study with relevant authorities to assess the award's impact on women's advancement and its role in embedding a culture of women's progress across all sectors and Bahraini society. Participation forms for the eighth cycle are now available on the SCW's website: www.scw.bh.