Parliamentary delegation participates in IPU's webinar on gender equality

Manama, Sept. 19 (BNA): The parliamentary delegation participated in an online seminar held by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) yesterday, marking the International Equal Pay Day, observed on September 18 every year. The parliamentary delegation, including members from the Representatives and Shura councils, stressed the keenness of the kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 related to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. The kingdom’s efforts are within the framework of the implementation of the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women which seeks to enable women to participate in the development process based on the principles of equal opportunities and the integration of women’s needs in development programmes, in accordance with a vision based on equal partnership to build a sustainable competitive society, members of the delegation said. They also lauded the role played by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and SCW President, to assist the state in adopting and implementing women-supporting initiatives and programmes. They also highlighted the role of the legislative branch in making sure that various state departments implement the principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination against women, as well as remove any obstacles facing them. The participants also said that the SCW follows up on state institutions’ implementation of the equal opportunities principles, noting that the kingdom has a national report to measure gender gap, in addition to a National Observatory for Gender Balance.