Bahrain sending message of peace, construction and development to world: Al Ansari

Manama, Dec. 9 (BNA): Supreme Council for Women Secretary-General Hala Al Ansari received Dr. David Fernandez Puyana, Ambassador, Permanent Observer, United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE) to the United Nations and UNESCO. He gave a presentation of opportunities for cooperation of interest to the university to activate the role of women and boost their contributions around the world as active elements in community peace-making as a first step within the educational process, leading to their participation from decision-making positions. Al Ansari stressed that Bahrain’s message to the world is a message of peace, construction and development. In this regard the Kingdom seeks to implement the pledge it made during the convening of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 and the commitments in the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action. This is in addition to Security Council Resolution 1325, that stresses the importance of balanced gender participation at all levels, especially with regard to decision-making and the involvement of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping operations. Assistant Secretary-General Shaikha Dina bint Rashid Al Khalifa gave the UN official a presentation on the Bahraini model for equal opportunity applications and their impact on the reality of women in national development. David Fernandez Puyana commended Bahrain’s achievements, development and its capability as a leading country and a center of expertise in women’s empowerment and gender balance in the Middle East and North Africa region and globally. He attributed Bahrain’s success to the outstanding efforts of the Supreme Council for Women headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of HM the King, since its establishment in 2001. He said he was looking forward to finding innovative ways to cooperate in empowering women and girls in achieving national goals in this field through alignment and guidance by the sustainable development goals.