Manama, Nov. 17, (BNA) Bahrain Women who form around 49 % of the total population according to recent statistics, are looking forward to a new Representatives Council, powerful enough to realize a host of expectations.
Women expect from the next council to issue a number of laws including early retirement and family laws, reduce their working hours and improve their living conditions to help them care more for their children and families. Bahraini women constitute a large vote power if we consider that female voters in the kingdom's five governorates count 148358 against 147328 male votes, outnumbering the male population by 1030. On this basis, the electoral programs that have accorded more interest to women issues are certainly to gain more female votes. There is no doubt that the current council's conviction and that of decision makers' of women's pivotal role in implementing the government's ambitious development plan has earned women an advanced status in all domains and made their issues rank high on national reform agendas. Throughout the past four years, the Representatives Council has been working strenuously within the boundaries of its prerogatives, to support women's causes and rights. Among its acknowledged achievements, the Council passed the Alimony Fund draft law, issued by HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on August 17, 2005, extended maternity leave from 35 to 60 working days and from 45 to 75 days including holidays and increased lactation hours for women workers from 1 to 2 hours a day for a six-month period. Most important of the other laws issued by the council which catered for both men and women were the Teachers' cadre which served 15 thousand male and female teachers and other cadres for engineers, physicians and nurses. Members of the Representatives Council have also presented many proposals so as to grant women the right to coach driving as men do. Another proposal has been made and later passed, allowing women wearing 'Niqab' to drive cars without being fined by traffic police. This demand was voiced by a large category of the Bahraini community as it falls within Sharia'a rights. On the other hand, the wise leadership has been paving the way for women to reinforce their position in all social areas, public life and work places helping them get access to education and health fields at the governmental sector and civil society institutions voluntary work. This enhanced women’s participation in the activities of political societies, gave them access into political life as candidates and voters and earned them Ministerial, judiciary and diplomatic posts. With accession of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the throne in March 1999 and the launch of his royal reform plan, more interest has been accorded to women in line with the first article of the kingdom's constitution which stipulates that men and women have equal rights to participate in public affairs and to vote and run for elections. Women in Bahrain have gained more rights in all fields than other women in the region have ever done, with 6 women were appointed to the 40-member Shura Council, one appointed as Bahrain's Ambassador to Paris, two assigned to Health and Social Development portfolios at the cabinet. One was appointed Secretary General of the Bahrain Council for Women at the rank of Minister and another assigned to the post of University President, in addition to four female assistant undersecretaries and 25 General Directors who mainly serve government sectors such as education, health and interior. For instance, the assignment of Bahraini Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa to the presidency of the UN General Assembly this year was a tangible proof of the trust Bahraini women have earned at both local and international levels. Not far from this context, recent statistics issued by the Central Statistics Organization in the kingdom revealed that an annual 5.7 % increase in the number of women workers' in the job market had been recorded, big strides made in political participation and economic activities jumped to five folds over the last three decades. The most important step on the track of women's political empowerment is owed to Amiri Order 44 for 2001 that established the Bahrain Supreme Council for Women, chaired by Wife of HM the King, HH Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. The Council was then entrusted with setting up policies, plans and programs to boost women's share in development and improve their overall status. One of the most important landmark achievements of the Council was undoubtedly the launch of the National Strategy for Women which was endorsed by HM the King, signaling the Council's inauguration of a new era in women's history, instructing all governmental and private bodies to help in the strategy implementation as to enable women to assume their full role in decision making and other domains on equal footing with men. As to what women expect the 2006 Representatives Council to do for them, an opinion poll was conducted by Bahraini Researcher and Human Resources Specialist at Al Badeel Training and Consultancy Center, Muna Dawood to explore different tendencies and inclinations. Around forty per cent of the 100 surveyed women, all aged 20 or more, said early retirement was their most urgent concern while enhancement of living conditions preoccupied the minds of 30 per cent, family law issuance was the most urgent demand for 15 per cent and lactation leave was the main concern for 10 percent ands reducing working hours was the urgent issue for 5 percent. Improving living conditions topped the list of women's urgent issues, ranking first with 35 percent, health in the second place with 30 %, education in the third position with 20 %, increasing retirement pensions in the forth place with 10 % and family recreation services came at the end of the list with only 5 %. Yet, there are other female issues of no less importance than the mentioned above which women wish to raise to their 2006 Council. These issues were explored in a series of opinion polls conducted by the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on a number of female citizens. Opinion polls came to revolve around reducing differences in wages between both genders, unifying privileges for women workers in government and private sectors, establishing a marriage fund, amending naturalization law to allow Bahrain women's children from foreign husbands obtain nationality and asking for a one month pre-delivery leave. It is noteworthy here that a large number of electoral campaigns are tickling the feelings of women, the sure bet of elections, that all their demands will be met but women's awareness alone will help them make the right choice. MTQ