Lecture focuses on gender balance in National Action Charter, national laws

Manama, Feb. 28 (BNA): The Supreme Council for Women, in cooperation with the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, organized an online lecture entitled "Gender Balance in the National Action Charter and National Laws and Legislation" The lecture reviewed how the Charter and the 2002 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain enshrined the legitimacy of Bahraini women's rights with the launch of the comprehensive reforms by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The reforms have also seen the establishment of the Supreme Council for Women and the continuous work to develop the legislation, laws and decisions concerned with activating the role of women and bolstering their contribution to the development of the nation. The lecture, held as Bahrain celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Charter, was conducted by Mohammed Waleed El Masri, Legal Advisor at the Supreme Council for Women. The six women on the charter drafting committee represented 13% of the members, he said. The referendum on the Charter on February 14 and 15, 2001 confirmed the right of 21-year-old Bahraini men and women to participate. The Charter was overwhelmingly approved by 98.4% of those who had the right to vote, and the percentage of women voting reached 49% of the total participants. This reflected the women's positive adoption of their new role in the new stage of Bahrain's political development, El Masri said. Following the popular approval of the Charter, HM the King on February 24 issued Decree 6 for the year 2001 to establish a “National Action Charter Activation Committee” to review all national laws and legislation and propose the necessary amendments and mechanisms to implement the principles of the Charter. The committee, formed by Cabinet Resolution 15 of 2001 and chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, comprised 16 members, including two women. Following continuous work that lasted about a year, the amended constitution was issued on February 14, 2002, containing many principles that supported the role of women in society in a way that cannot be overlooked or curtailed. The lecturer pointed out that the first chapter of the National Action Charter emphasized that individual freedoms, equality among citizens, justice and equal opportunities are basic pillars of the community that the State has to guarantee for all citizens without discrimination. All citizens are equal before the law in rights and duties, and there is no discrimination between them based on gender, origin, language, religion, or creed. Chapter Two stipulated the right of citizens, men and women, to participate in public affairs, whereby citizens, as well as their political rights, including the right to vote and be elected in accordance with the provisions of the law. The first article of the Constitution took up what was stated in the Charter and Paragraph E stipulated that all citizens have the right to participate in the public affairs of the State and enjoy political rights, beginning with the right to vote, in accordance with this Constitution and the conditions and procedures set forth in the law. No citizen may be deprived of the right to vote or run for office except in accordance with the law. Article 4 stipulates that justice underlies the system of government, that co-operation and mutual understanding are firm bonds among citizens, and that liberty, equality, security, tranquility, education, social solidarity and equal opportunities for citizens are the pillars of society guaranteed by the State. The lecture also referred to the Law on the Exercise of Political Rights, the national model for gender balance, and the qualitative role of the legislative branch in supporting the efforts of the Supreme Council for Women to promote the principle of equal opportunities.