Her Excellency Dr. Jihad Abdullah Al-Fadil, Second Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, participated in a high-level consultative session to prepare an international guide on gender equality in food and agricultural systems, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly’s decision to recognize parliaments as an essential element in accelerating the achievement of the sustainable development goals, especially the fifth goal related to gender equality and ensuring food systems that provide food security and nutrition for all. Dr. reviewed. Al-Fadhel, during the consultative session in which a large number of parliamentarians and senior FAO officials participated, highlighted the efforts of the Kingdom of Bahrain at the legislative and executive levels related to building an integrated food security system that ensures the sustainable availability of food and nutrition for all. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) praised the active participation of the Shura Council, represented by His Excellency Dr. Jihad Al-Fadhel, during the high-level consultative session, where the organization praised the comprehensive and distinguished presentation made by Her Excellency. Due to the joint efforts made by the legislative and executive authorities in building an integrated and sustainable food security system, which highlighted, through realistic evidence and examples, the extent of the proactive progress made by the Kingdom of Bahrain in achieving the sustainable development goals, making it a model to be emulated at the level of countries around the world in the field of enhancing food security and empowering women within agricultural and food systems. During the consultative session, His Excellency the Second Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council confirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain, thanks to the wise vision of the wise leadership, has preserved May God protect her, she transcended the issue of gender equality not only at the constitutional and legal level, but also at the level of practical application and societal reality, indicating that Bahraini women today are not just a partner in development, but rather a leader in various fields, from politics to economics, and from education to innovation. Her Excellency explained that the Kingdom’s advanced ranks globally in the field of women’s empowerment and leadership were not the result of the moment, but rather the cumulative result of an authentic societal culture that believes in women’s rights and cherishes them. With its gains, before they were enshrined by laws and strengthened by national policies, the Bahraini Constitution and related legislation came to translate this societal faith and political will from the wise leadership, may God protect them, into legal guarantees, and add to it more care and institutional support, in a way that consolidates the status of women and enhances their role in building and developing the nation. Dr. indicated. Al-Fadel pointed out that food security and good nutrition are not luxuries, but rather basic human rights, and they have been affirmed in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, adding that ensuring that all members of society have access to safe and adequate food is a moral duty and a legal obligation that falls on everyone. Her Excellency explained that the Kingdom of Bahrain has taken advanced and tangible steps to enhance food security for all members of society, which is evident through unifying the efforts made by various members of society. Sectors within the National Food Security Strategy, pointing in this regard to the efforts of the Supreme Council for Women, headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, may God protect her, which focuses on enhancing women’s participation in public life as an indispensable element, including areas vital to food production, such as pushing them for investment and entrepreneurship in the modern agricultural and livestock production sector. Dr. The Kingdom of Bahrain launched the “Food City” project, an integrated center extending over an area of one million square metres, which aims to enhance local food production, processing and distribution, which enhances food security and sustainable investment in the agricultural and food sector in the long term. The consultative session examined the guide to gender equality in food and agricultural systems as a practical tool that combines evidence-based best practices, political tools, and applicable recommendations to support parliamentarians in integrating a gender perspective across their legislative, oversight and representative tasks, where the guide was reviewed and its recommendations were adopted, Ensure that these recommendations are realistic and implementable.
