Shura Council Chairman, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, has affirmed that the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) has set the example in enhancing the status of Bahraini women and achieving gender balance across various national development fields, in line with the aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for constantly advancing Bahraini women’s participation in building their society.
Al-Saleh lauded the distinguished achievements attained by the SCW since its establishment 20 years ago, under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and SCW President.
The Shura Chairman made the statements while receiving here today the SCW Secretary-General, Hala Al-Ansari, Assistant Secretary-General, Deena bint Rashid Al Khalifa, and their accompanying delegation, in the presence of the first and second deputies of the Shura Council Chairman, Jamal Mohammed Fakhro and Jameela Ali Salman, respectively, members of the Coordination Committee between the legislative branch and the SCW, members of the Woman and Child Committee at the Shura Council and Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Unit at the Secretariat-General.
The two sides discussed the latest developments regarding the activation of the National Gender Balance Model, in addition to the indicators of the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women and the visions of the legislative branch on the laws and services that support social protection and family stability, based on the recent decrees issued in this regard.
Al-Saleh praised the SCW’s work method stemming from its ambitious national vision to integrate women’s needs in the development process and enhancing their leadership in various fields, based on pioneering national strategies and plans.
He reiterated the Shura Council’s keenness to support the SCW’s efforts, initiatives and programmes that serve Bahraini women, through providing the necessary legislative support so as to meet the goals of the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women.
Al-Ansari affirmed that based on HRH Princess Sabeeka’s directives, the SCW has enhanced its cooperation with the legislative branch to increase the gains of Bahraini women and consolidate the kingdom’s leadership in the field of women issues, regionally and internationally.
She expressed the SCW’s keenness to continue reviewing, evaluating and measuring the desired impact of this cooperation in order to reach common goals.
She commended the role played by the Shura Council in following up the implementation of the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women (2013-2020) through the Government Action Plan, keenness to continue the women-related legislative system and highlighting Bahrain’s efforts in the field of women advancement at international gatherings.
Al-Ansari stressed the importance of the Shura Council’s role in developing binding tools and texts to follow up on the implementation of the government action plan, integrating women’s needs into the state budget, following up on the implementation of laws, issuing priority executive decisions, monitoring any legislative gaps directly related to Bahraini women, and activating the legislative and oversight role using parliamentary tools to support the national efforts in terms of the advancement of Bahraini women, and activation of the priority items for joint action during the next phase.
Source: Bahrain News Agency