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Bahrain hosts second GCC Permanent Committee for Women’s Affairs meeting
Bahrain hosted the second meeting of the GCC Permanent Committee for Women’s Affairs at the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) headquarters. High-level delegations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain attended the meeting.
Lulwa Al Awadhi, Acting Secretary General of the SCW, welcomed the GCC delegations, conveying greetings from Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King and President of the SCW, and her wishes for the meeting’s success. Al Awadhi highlighted the committee’s role in coordinating GCC efforts to empower women and enhance their leadership and contributions across the region.
Al Awadhi expressed Bahrain’s anticipation of productive outcomes from the meeting to support women in the GCC. She noted the progress Gulf women have achieved in advancing national development and becoming active partners in the region’s comprehensive progress.
She underlined the committee’s role as a platform to unify efforts and showcase progress, affirming Bahrain’s commitment to sharing its expertise in empowering women through policies and initiatives. She commended Gulf women’s ability to lead and innovate, becoming role models in various fields and driving sustainable development across the region.
Iman Al Enzi, Secretary General of Kuwait’s Supreme Council for Family Affairs, expressed appreciation for HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim for hosting the meeting and commended her efforts in supporting and empowering Gulf women. She emphasised the importance of collective work to further women’s roles in sustainable development.
The meeting reviewed the GCC Ministerial Council’s decision on the 2024–2030 Gulf joint action strategy for women, approved in September 2023. The committee discussed proposals for implementing the strategy’s key objectives in coordination with the GCC General Secretariat.
Members also reviewed a proposal for a side event on Gulf women during the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women, scheduled for March in New York. The event will highlight Gulf women’s achievements in modern technology and digital transformation. The committee also discussed the proposed timeline for the event.