Manama : The Kingdom of Bahrain has become a leading model to be emulated in its human rights-related legal gains, thanks to the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al Asfoor, Minister of Social Development, said.
In a statement marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the minister appreciated the ‘pivotal’ role played by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of HM the King and SCW President, in ensuring the continuity of integrated efforts aimed at implementing plans, programmes and policies that consolidate women’s rights.
The SCW’s efforts to protect Bahraini women are carried out in coordination with all the relevant authorities, and through the inauguration of the National Strategy to Protect Women from Domestic Violence to enhance their rights and combat all forms of violence against them, he said.
Minister Al Asfoor highlighted the multiple initiatives taken by the Kingdom to raise societal awareness in the field of combating violence against women, to pave the way for them to participate effectively in the comprehensive development process, which, he said, confirms Bahrain’s commitment to the fifth sustainable development goal aiming to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
In this regard, he pointed to the Social Development Ministry’s programmes and projects aimed at protecting women, including the “Dar Al-Aman” (Safety House) for women subjected to domestic violence, which was established within the community partnership programmes with civil society institutions. The “House” delivers the necessary shelter and social care services to the beneficiaries, in coordination with various concerned official, civil and private bodies, in order to provide protections to ensure their social integration.
Concerning family protection, he said that the Social Development Ministry’s family guidance offices play an effective and essential role in maintaining family stability and cohesion, through guidance services and family counseling sessions, in addition to family education programmes that aim to spread community awareness, adding that they oversee the granting of licenses to family guidance centres, in line with the provisions of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence.
The Social Development Minister asserted that Bahrain enjoys an advanced international position in the field of protecting women from violence, thanks to its legislation and laws, which confirms its commitment to raising awareness of the issue of combating violence at the national and international levels.
