Mahmoud Al -Sheikh
The Kingdom of Bahrain celebrates this year (the twenty -second of August) the twenty -fourth anniversary of the founding of the Supreme Council for Women, the leading national institution that emerged from the insightful vision of the Royal Highness Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of His Majesty the Great King, President of the Supreme Council for Women. The founding of the council came in the year 2001 AD to be a qualitative step in the path of national reform, and a beacon that reflects the faith of the wise leadership of the role of Bahraini women as an authentic partner in building the state and making its renaissance.
Since its inception, the Council has contributed to the consolidation of the presence of Bahraini women in various areas of public and private life, through an integrated strategy for empowerment, which was based on the principle of equal opportunities and balanced participation in development, and its work was not limited to enhancing awareness of women’s rights and encouraging them to participate in political, economic and social participation, but rather exceeded the formulation of supportive legislation, drawing national policies, and following up their implementation in a way that guarantees sustainability The gains and their growth.
In light of these continuous efforts, Bahraini women have made witnessed achievements; It has emerged in decision -making sites, and the platforms of diplomatic and parliamentary representation were occupied, and they held leadership positions in the public and private sectors, as well as in the fields of education, medicine, culture and arts. Perhaps these successes would not have been fulfilled without the grace of God Almighty and then the institutional support provided by the Supreme Council for Women, and what its programs embodied in a comprehensive national vision, which are organically linked to the comprehensive reform project led by His Majesty the King, may God protect and preserve him.
The passage of twenty -four years since the establishment of the Supreme Council for Women is not merely an occasion to celebrate the achievements, but rather an opportunity to renew the determination to continue the march, and to anticipate wider horizons of empowerment and leadership. Today, Bahraini women – and their worth in all fields of giving – has been proved to be confident towards the future, armed with science, experience and will, and enriched with firm national institutions that believe in their ability to creativity and active participation.
On this annual anniversary, the Kingdom of Bahrain has the right to be proud of its Supreme Council for Women, a symbol of institutional giving, and a title for the civilized approach that puts man – a man and a woman – at the heart of comprehensive and sustainable development. This march is only a witness that investing in women’s energies is an investment in the future of the country, and that enabling them is not a luxury, but rather a basic pillar of progress and prosperity.
* PhD researcher – Sharia researcher at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments
