King's order to set up family courts' building hailed

Manama, Nov. 21 (BNA): Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), has extended deepest thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa following his order to allocate a building for family courts that takes the specificity of shari'a family cases into account and fast-tracks their procedures. The kind gesture affirms anew HM the King's constant interest in Bahraini families and keenness to ensure that the state executive bodies provide all that is necessary to preserve their specificities and consolidate their stability, HRH Princess Sabeeka said, voicing utmost happiness and satisfaction with the issuance of the Royal Order which, she said, supports the recommendations of the Third National Conference for Women on the need to establish an independent building for family courts. Under the royal order, courts will be a convenient and suitable venues where family disputes can be contained through the activation of the role family guidance and reconciliation away from other courts, she said, lauding the role played by the Judiciary in the kingdom in following up on the implementation of justice that takes the interests of all the parties of the same family into consideration through the application of quality texts that embody the provisions of the Islamic Shari'a. HRH Princess Sabeeka expressed hope that the royal move will be one of the factors that contribute to reducing family disputes and divorce rates. HRH Princess Sabeeka asserted that that the establishment of an independent building for family courts should be regarded as a national achievement, stressing that the move will increase the SCW's responsibilities towards carrying out its duties regarding the empowerment of Bahraini women and strengthening the stability of the Bahraini family. HRH Princess Sabeeka extended thanks and appreciation to the partners of the SCW among the official legal and judicial authorities, including the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, for the strenuous efforts they have exerted for the sake of the establishment of the independent family courts' building. She also paid tribute to the civil society organisations for their efforts in this regard. HRH Princess Sabeeka reiterated the SCW's unwavering support to all the efforts exerted by its partners for the aim of maintaining the advanced status of the Bahraini family, expressing hope that family courts will include qualified experts, such as social and psychological specialists, and be a national monument that is capable of protecting the rights of Bahraini families and enhance the level of social stability in the kingdom.