UN officials, diplomats call for greater international promotion of Bahraini women's achievements

Manama, May 20 (BNA): Bahrain has made great strides in consolidating its position as a responsible member of the international community on various women's issues, international officials and ambassadors have said. In their statements, they stressed the significance of promoting by all relevant Bahrain parties of Bahrain's pro-women achievements in different spheres of influence and decision-making across the world. The Supreme Council for Women, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of HM the King, has managed in recent years to intensify its active presence in all international forums related to women, drawing on its transformation into a regional house of expertise on various issues of women. Director International Peace Institute Middle East & North Africa (IPI MENA) Nejib Friji‏ said that "despite the challenge of the small geographical area, Bahrain's name is strongly echoed in various international forums related to women." "Bahrain today is an active member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and a member of the Executive Council. Bahrain also has an influential and active presence in regional women's organizations or the Arab Women's Committee of the Arab League," he said. "We were all witnesses to Bahrain's outstanding success on the United Nations platform in New York through the launch of the Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa International Women's Empowerment Award, which recognizes mechanisms to support women's issues in the world. We are confident that the countries that are keen on the advancement of women will benefit from the criteria of this international award." The international community is increasingly recognizing the important role played by Bahrain in providing best practices related to the support of Bahraini women and women around the world, he added. "The global figures and indicators that Bahrain has achieved in many international reports related to women confirm such achievements. We are keen to strengthen our partnership with the Supreme Council for Women to find broader ways of cooperation to achieve the goals we all aspire to accomplish." Dr. Hashim S. Hussein, the head of United Nations Industrial Development Organization - Investment and Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO-ITPO)/ the Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment Training (ARCEIT) , hailed the role of the Supreme Council for Women in reinforcing the international presence of Bahraini women in various area, including the economy and business. He called for a greater promotion of Bahrain's achievements in the field and of the various successes accomplished by Bahraini women in various areas. "There is no doubt that outstanding efforts have been exerted and resulted in today's great presence of the Kingdom of Bahrain in all international issues related to women. We in UNIDO have been keen to benefit from the Bahraini experience in spreading the culture of entrepreneurship and empowering women. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutrich has praised the Bahraini model of empowering young people and women around the world," he said. Japan's ambassador to Bahrain Hideki Ito said that everyone has noted that women in Bahrain are present in all sectors, governmental, commercial and civil, and in the legislative branch. "There are Bahraini women in the diplomatic corps, and there are business women and others with whom we work constantly, and I personally am very happy to be in an open civilized country in which women work with men side by side in building their own nation," he said. "I do not exaggerate when I say that we in Japan aspire to benefit from the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain in supporting the presence of women in various fields and the plans, programs and initiatives implemented by the Supreme Council for Women to consolidate their presence." Former Pakistani ambassador to Bahrain Javed Malik said that he was an eyewitness to the great work exerted by the Supreme Council for Women under the leadership of HRH Princess Sabeeka. "We must appreciate the Council for its efforts to support women and create opportunities for them. This is all possible thanks to the vision and directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa who is one of the world's most supportive and enthusiastic leaders to give equal opportunities to women," he said. The Supreme Council for Women "has become one of the most important national institutions in Bahrain thanks to its exemplary and distinctive services to support Bahraini women in various fields and at all levels," added Malik now the President of the UK and Middle East-based Diplomat International Forum (DIF). "The Supreme Council for Women has succeeded in building effective links with all government ministries, as well as with public and private sector entities, to encourage them and work closely with them to ensure that women have access to employment opportunities and encourage them to enter the entrepreneurial sector. This has enabled women to improve themselves economically and socially. Today you can see Bahraini women make an important contribution to the government and the private sectors, as ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors and judges, and in other leadership roles, such as women ministers or heads of important government entities," he said.