Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) in cooperation with the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) organised the 6th Annual Derasat Forum on: ‘The Role of Women in Policy-Making, Think Tanks and Research’.
The two-day forum brought together participants from Bahrain, the GCC, and other parts of the world; including experts, policy makers, representatives of United Nations agencies, researches.
In her opening remarks, Hala Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari, Secretary General of the SCW, expressed her appreciation for choosing such a theme, that is less talked about in the Arab region.
She affirmed Bahrain’s efforts in supporting the advancement of Bahraini women and focusing on their qualitative engagement.
Al Ansari indicated that the SCW works through its advisory role of planning, monitoring and evaluation, to contribute directly to creating knowledge, scientific and specialised expertise; thus, strengthening Bahrain’s status in developing and adopting best practices to accelerate the pace of women’s progress nationally, in a way that qualifies that expertise to be shared internationally.
Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Derasat, said that the Kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has made great strides in empowering women and expanding their participation in the country.
The chairman noted that Bahraini women obtained the highest levels of education, which was clearly reflected in strengthening their role and status in political, economic and social disciplines.
He expressed pride in SCW’s achievements, which is led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, in terms of consolidating the role of Bahraini women as an active partner in the comprehensive development process of HM the King.
Dr. Shaikh Abdullah praised the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for youth, males and females, and his efforts to empower them with knowledge, through the Crown Prince International Scholarship Program (CPISP) which aims at enhancing their contribution in the development of Bahrain.
Despite what the world is witnessing in terms of the increase in the levels of educational and academic performance among females, their participation in the fields of scientific research still needs more support, despite efforts made by the United Nations and many countries to bridge the gap and achieve parity between genders in all fields, he said.
He underlined the importance of supporting women to help them achieve scientific and academic progress in addition to their societal responsibilities, and to harness the necessary programs to enable both genders to achieve the parity that the United Nations aspires to by 2030.
Two sessions were held in the first day of the forum, with participation from a diverse range of women holding key positions in think tanks and government entities. The panelists provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing women in each sector across the region.
The first session of the forum, entitled “Women Thought Leaders: Past aspirations and present achievements”, shed light on challenges and opportunities facing women in various sectors in the region.
The second session, “National Initiatives for Women and Management of Gender Balance Applications,” highlighted the importance of national initiatives in achieving gender balance at work, policies to enhance the role of women and strategies for their access to leadership positions, and their participation in decision-making.
Source: Bahrain News Agency
