The Kingdom of Bahrain is steadfastly making its way towards the heart of global decision -making, seeking to membership of the UN Security Council. At the heart of this ambition, another story stands, a deep intertwined story with the first, is the story of the empowerment of Bahraini women, which represents a fundamental pillar in the vision of Bahrain, and one of its strongest diplomatic tools in promoting its international position.
The official path of this empowerment was launched with the founding of the Supreme Council for Women in 2001 headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of His Majesty the King, a milestone that embodied the commitment of the wise leadership to make women a key partner in drawing policies and making future.
It was a seed of concrete fruits that changed the face of society. In the labor market, Bahraini women have become 42.8% of the national workforce, an active presence that promotes development.
In the legislative field, the presence of women constitutes 20% of the seats of the House of Representatives, an audible voice that contributes to the formation of laws. Even in the courts of judiciary, where the roles were confined, Bahraini judges are advancing by 11%, noting the banner of justice.
But the most striking in the context of international ambition is the distinguished female presence in the diplomatic corps, with a rate of 37%. This represents a practical translation of Bahraini women’s competencies and their ability to effectively represent her homeland on the finest global platforms.
They proved their worth, and this merit reached its climax when His Excellency Sheikha Haya Bint Rashid Al Khalifa rose to head the sixty -first session of the United Nations General Assembly, to become the first Arab and third woman in the world to hold this high position, achieving a historic achievement for Bahrain and the entire Arab woman.
Bahrain’s efforts in this field have received wide international appreciation, which was manifested in qualitative initiatives such as “Princess Sabika Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa International Award for Women”, in cooperation with the United Nations for Women. This award, which put Bahrain on the map of international efforts supporting women, reinforced its image as a leading country in this regard.
Here, Bahrain’s ambition meets a seat in the Security Council, and the story of empowering women, which has become one of the most important balances of candidacy for this seat. Bahrain does not come to this seat with public promises only, but also a vital societal project that has proven successful, with tangible experience that it adopts and aspires to participate in a broader scale.
She realizes that the security and peace are not fulfilled without the full and effective participation of women. Therefore, Bahrain announces its explicit commitment, in the event that the Security Council membership is won, by integrating the perspective of women in all vital work of the Council, and enhancing its role in peacekeeping and peace -building operations, seeking to build more comprehensive and sustainable societies for all.
Bahrain’s endeavor to the Security Council is, in essence, the culmination of a comprehensive development path, a man and a woman, in his heart. The story of the success of Bahraini women, with their leadership, efficiency and growing presence locally, is one of the strongest evidence that Bahrain carries a valuable vision and experience that can enrich the work of the Security Council and enhance its effectiveness in addressing the complex challenges facing our world today.
It brings a vital community project, and in a busy record in a basic field of human rights and sustainable development, ready to translate this model into a tangible contribution to international peace and security.
