Women’s Day, Honoring the Contributions of Bahraini Women

Manama, Nov. 30 (BNA): Being the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to allow women to vote, and third country globally to have a female diplomat presiding at the UN General Assembly, Bahrain has made significant progress in increasing and strengthening women’s role in society and has much to celebrate on Bahrain’s Women’s Day. December 1st of every year, Bahrain recognizes not only the historic contributions of women but also their national and international achievements, in an effort to highlight and reaffirm the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening their role in society. This year’s Bahraini Women’s Day theme honors the participation of women in the judicial and legal field, where; the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Wife of the King of Bahrain has, since 2001, worked towards ensuring the sustainability of the natural growth and development of women’s progress within the framework of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women. The appointment of the first Bahraini woman at ministerial rank by Royal Decree within the (GCC), in 2001 as the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women paved the way for numerous appointments to come; with women ministers in fields such as Social Development, Human Rights, Information, and Culture. Bahraini women today represent 9% of judges, 55% of lawyers, 53% of government employees, 63% in higher education and has attained global recognition, by being ranked 1st internationally, registering the fastest growth rate of women’s economic participation, as per the latest "Women in Business and Management" ILO Report, 2016. In addition, Bahrain also records an increase in women legislators, senior officials, and managers (from 13% in 2015 to 22% in 2016), as per the latest Global Gender Gap Report, released by the World Economic Forum, 2016.