Bahrain: National Conference on Mainstreaming Gender in Development

June11, 2008 - (UNDP.org) A two-day National Conference on Mainstreaming Gender in Development was held in Bahrain on June 9 - 10, 2008.

The Conference, organized by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, aimed towards promoting inclusive development, enhancing planning and policy-making abilities and to emerge with practical recommendations towards the empowerment of Bahraini women.

Women hold the keys, alongside men, to the country's development, said Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women. Enabling Bahraini women is essential in the development of the country, she said at the opening of the conference. The empowerment of women is neither a luxury nor an option but an urgent necessity:

"The SCW is meeting its national responsibility in establishing a base for this initiative, by providing all the support to create a framework and implementation system," said Shaikha Sabeeka.
"This will allow certain bodies in the country, especially the Parliament and the Shura Council, to work towards meeting women's needs in legislation, systems, programmes and work plans".

Over 200 representatives from government ministries, the Parliament, the Shura Council, civil societies, the private sector, media, religious scholars and youth societies as well as other regional and international organizations participated in the Conference. International organizations participating in the Conference included the Arab Woman's Organisation, UNIFEM, AGFUND, UNDP, ESCWA, United Nations Development Fund for Women, Al Hariri Organisation from Lebanon, the UAE General Women's Union and the National Council for Women in Egypt. As an outcome of the Conference, the SCW seeks to mobilise support of local, regional and international partners to back various programmes technically and financially.

UN Assistant Secretary General and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme, Amat Al Alim Alsoswa, presented a paper on the terminology of social mainstreaming in international agreements and accords. She also highlighted Arab commitments to ensure equal gender partnership in their plans and policies and emphasized on the need to exploit human and financial resources to help men and women take decisions voluntarily, confidently and with dignity.

The participants called on the authorities concerned to provide comprehensive and beneficial information and statistics regarding women and to enhance the capabilities of ministry employees and officials in dealing with the issue of gender equality.

As an outcome of the Conference, a recommendation was made to promote and support the role of women in society as well as to make available the necessary resources to set up policies in support of the role of women. Other recommendations included a study and review of the role of official organizations in Bahrain to identify their ability to meet the needs of women as well as building their capacity in integrating the national plan to promote the role of women in their programmes.

The SCW called upon the government and the Economic Development Board to draw up a clear national plan, which will guarantee a successful transformation for Bahrain. "I hope that this conference will lead us to a just co-operation that will begin to preserve and provide rights and stability to women and children, in addition to their continuous role in supporting men," said Shaikha Sabee.

From:http://www.undp.org.bh/