Manama, Aug. 21 (BNA): On August 22, 2025, the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), an advisory body founded under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the leading advocate for Bahraini women’s advancement, celebrates its 24th anniversary. Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King, chairs the Council, which acts as the national reference body for women’s issues.
Supreme Council for Women celebrates its 24th anniversary
The SCW has made significant strides in the last 24 years that have improved women’s position and guaranteed their involvement in social, political, cultural, and economic spheres. These initiatives are a reflection of the Council’s vision for the future, which preserves Bahrain’s national character and values while keeping pace with worldwide advancements in women’s empowerment. Through supportive laws, policies, and initiatives, the government, led by Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, made progress in collaboration with state institutions, the commercial sector, and civil society.
The Council commemorates this anniversary by highlighting its accomplishments that, under royal patronage, make women’s empowerment a national priority. The demands of Bahraini women have been met by its programs and initiatives, which have promoted them to leadership positions and strengthened their position as important development partners.
The National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women (2025–2026) was introduced by the SCW in 2025 with the subject “Bahraini Women: From Empowerment and Progress towards Leadership.” Family stability, decision-making, economic engagement, and quality of life are the four main focuses of the plan. Initiatives in each field address five areas: awareness and training, audit and oversight, gender-responsive budgeting, policies, and monitoring and evaluation.
In accordance with this strategy, HRH Princess Sabeeka issued Decision (1) of 2025 creating the Women’s Committee in the Nursery and Kindergarten Sector to improve early childhood education by researching the working conditions of women in this field, proposing general policies, and creating training and certification programs.
In order to improve access to support services, the Supreme Council also announced the opening of women’s support offices in social development centers located throughout Bahrain’s four governorates. Based on the results of a meeting with media representatives on the National Plan, HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim also issued Decision (6) of 2025 creating the Women in Media Committee to showcase Bahrain’s advancements in this area and the accomplishments of women.
Her Royal Highness persisted in endorsing significant national occasions. She supported the 29th Bahrain Grand Holy Quran Recitation and Memorization Competition, the Shaikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa Award for Youth Voluntary Work, the graduation ceremonies of the Royal University for Women and Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School, and the World Businesswomen’s Forum and Exhibition hosted by the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society.
Delegations from every GCC member state attended the second regional meeting of the GCC Standing Committee on Women’s Affairs, which was held in Bahrain at the SCW headquarters. Additionally, the SCW attended the “Developing Institutional Partnerships for Sustainable Development in GCC States” forum in Saudi Arabia, where topics included successful regional partnerships, institutional cooperation, problems and solutions, and the function of regional organizations in sustainable development were covered.
Additionally, the SCW participated in the UAE Gender Balance Center’s Knowledge Exchange Forum on Women’s Economic Empowerment.
Globally, the SCW took part in the third Middle East Sustainability Forum, which was hosted in Bahrain and brought together more than 400 experts and decision-makers to talk about innovation, business models, and climate action. Additionally, it attended the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, where it, in collaboration with UN Women, presented the third iteration of the HRH Princess Sabeeka Global Award for Women’s Empowerment. Reviewing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, assessing gender equality advancements, and formulating international policy were the main objectives of the CSW69 session.
The “Imtiaz” Award for young Bahraini women entrepreneurs, which highlights female talent and business success stories, is one of the Supreme Council’s ongoing national projects.
Through memoranda of understanding with the Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and the Royal Humanitarian Foundation, the SCW fortified national alliances to better coordinate assistance for women in times of crisis. In order to foster collaboration in the areas of gender equality, preventing violence against women, and family counseling services, it inked a new pact with the Bahrain Women’s Union.
Furthermore, the SCW and the Institute of Public Administration inked a contract to jointly conduct training programs that support the national leadership development program, advance gender parity, and improve leadership competencies. In order to further efforts on gender balance, a collaboration agreement was also inked with the Shura Council, which was represented by its chairman, Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh.
In the future, the SCW will keep promoting the accomplishments of Bahraini women, boosting their involvement in the family, society, economy, and leadership, and making sure that their contributions are sustained. In order to maintain Bahrain‘s principles, identity, and social cohesiveness, the Supreme Council is still dedicated to enhancing the representation of women in leadership and decision-making.
M.B. and H.F.
