Manama: Bahrain on Thursday paid rich tribute to its women, openly recognising their social, political and economic power and saying that they have succeeded in becoming equal to men in the workplace and an essential component of the country’s integrated development.
“Bahrain today can openly say that its women have gone beyond the empowerment and rights stage to become full partners with men, enjoying equality in the workplace and asserting themselves as an essential component of integrated development and as powerful drivers of the economy,” Princess Sabeeka Bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), the official body founded in 2001 to empower women politically, socially and economically, said.
Bahrain celebrates Women’s Day on December 1 under a different theme every year. This year’s theme is “Women in Legal and Judicial Fields”.
The celebration of Bahraini Women’s Day highlights the successes of Bahraini women in contributing to developing and improving the performances of their institutes and establishments, she added.
Princess Sabeeka lauded the role of women in the various legal institutions of Bahrain, including the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and the Legislation and Legal Opinion Authority.
“These institutions have been very keen on elevating and consolidating the status of women, encouraging them to move forward in asserting their presence and participation,” she said. “The women in these institutions are well conscious that there are no obstacles that could impede their progress and advancement, empowering themselves to exert, alongside their male colleagues, outstanding efforts in the service of the country. The number of women in the judicial branch is a great source of pride.”
However, Princess Sabeeka said that the successes and achievements should continue and women should work on reinforcing their national accomplishments and elevating their status higher regionally and internationally.
According to official figures, Bahraini women represent nine per cent of all judges, 55 per cent of the lawyers, 53 per cent of the public sector employees and 63 per cent of the higher education personnel.
The Supreme Council for Women said that Bahraini women were ranked first internationally after they recorded the fastest growth rate of women’s economic participation, according to the latest “Women in Business and Management” ILO Report, 2016.
Bahrain also recorded an increase in the number of women legislators, senior officials, and managers, from 13 per cent in 2015 to 22 per cent in 2016, the Global Gender Gap Report, issued by the 2016 World Economic Forum, said.
