HRH Princess Sabeeka receives IPU President

Manama, Jan. 20 (BNA): Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), received today at SCW headquarters, in Riffa, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Gabriela Cuevas Barron and her accompanying delegation. She welcomed her, underlining keenness of the Supreme Council for Women to boost cooperation with IPU in order to shed light on the achievements of Bahraini women. She lauded participation of IPU in the conference held by SCW last November to cast light on the role of political participation of women in achieving developmental justice. HRH Princess Sabeeka reiterated the kingdom’s pride in the accomplishments brought about by Bahraini women in the political field, citing indices like an increase in the participation rate in voting (67%), an increase in the participation rate of Bahraini women as candidates in the elections (47), winning six seats in the Representatives Council and four seats in the municipal councils, becoming Speaker of the Representatives Council in an unprecedented achievement at the national level, appointing nine women to the Shura Council and five women at the Capital Municipality. HRH Princess Sabeeka affirmed that boosting political participation of Bahraini women is a priority in the national plan for the empowerment of Bahraini women which was approved by HM the King in 2005 as the first quality scheme in the region to be endorsed by the Head of the State. She pointed out the efforts of SCW since its inception to promote social awareness of the need to participate in the elections as voters and candidates and encourage voting for the most competent candidate, man or woman. A visual presentation was also given at the meeting on the role of SCW and the accomplishments of Bahraini women since the launch of the national reform project spearheaded by HM the King. The IPU President voiced the union’s appreciation of the kingdom’s advanced experience in boosting the presence of women in political life. She stressed the importance of the programmes and initiatives carried out by SCW under the presidency of HRH Princess Sabeeka, underlining the union’s readiness to bolster cooperation to highlight the achievements of Bahraini women in the political field and enable the world to benefit from this advanced experience.