HRH Princess Sabeeka: Bahrain moved beyond women's empowerment stages

Manama, Dec. 1 (BNA): Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council of Women (SCW), addressed the Bahraini Women's Day celebrations, affirming that Bahrain has gone way beyond women's empowerment stages. This year, Bahraini Women's Day is being celebrated under the theme "Women in Legal and Judicial Fields". Her Royal Highness said: "The accomplishments over the past 15 years since the establishment of the SCW are ascribable after Allah's help to the insightful vision of His Majesty the King and endorsement of the SCW as one of the pillars of His Majesty's democratic reforms within the frame of the State of the Institutions and the Law to provide fair and equal opportunity for Bahraini women's participation and preservation of women's rights as fully qualified citizens, so Bahraini women today are reaping the fruits of this rich process embodied in the countless accomplishments and gains that qualify Bahrain to explicitly announce it has surpassed the stages of empowerment of Bahraini women gaining their rights, and attained a more advanced stage and now women stand on equal footing with men in all fields of work as an integral part of the comprehensive development and national economic growth in view of women's longstanding contributions, mature experience and spectacular giving". Her Royal Highness pointed out that the yearly Bahraini Women's Day celebration on December 1 derives its brilliance and sheen from its coincidence with the celebrations of the Kingdom of Bahrain's Glorious National Days. Her Royal Highness explained that the Bahraini Women's Day is a national occasion and the source of the Bahraini people's pride considering the continuous work output throughout the year of the image and reality of Bahraini women and their capacity to leave clear imprints in developing and boosting the performance quality in the establishments where women participated with determination and firmness. Her Royal Highness also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, the Legislation & Legal Opinion Authority, all the affiliates of these bodies, the civil society organizations in this field and women's societies, whose efforts had the greatest effect in activation of the subject of Bahraini Women's Day for this year (2016) to achieve the aspired goals. Her Royal Highness cited the huge keenness shown by the legal and judicial institutions to boost the position of working women in them, and therefore left the greatest impact in terms of encouragement of women to march forward to prove their presence, participation and advancement in this vital field, boosting their awareness that there are no obstacles to hinder their progress or advancement and in partnership with men colleagues to hoist the flag of comprehensive renaissance in the kingdom. Her Royal Highness said the presence of Bahraini women in the judicial and justice institutions, and in the law profession induces pride and boasting. On this occasion, Her Royal Highness congratulated the affiliates of the legal and judicial institutions for their achievement of such a prestigious position, that requires more serious and hard work to boost their quality presence in their respective jobs. Her Royal Highness concluded by expressing pride in the Kingdom of Bahrain's daughters working in all fields who have meritoriously and deservedly assumed leading administrative and political decision-making echelons, citing the need to maintain the countless accomplishments and achievements at the nation level and to retain such place as an exemplary model at the local, regional and international functions.