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SCW participates in 69th UN Commission on Status of Women Session
A Bahraini delegation participated in a ministerial session in the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
The theme of the session reviewed and appraised the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The review included an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action, the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ambassador Jamal Faris Al Ruwaie, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations in New York, delivered the Kingdom’s statement, underscoring Bahrain’s commitment to integrating sustainable development goals into national policies. He highlighted the economic recovery and sustainable development plan within the Government Plan (2023-2026) and the Kingdom’s pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
He emphasised Bahrain’s continued efforts, through the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), to integrate women’s needs into national development, guided by the National Action Charter and the Constitution, with strong political support. He noted that Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and SCW President, recently approved the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women (2025–2026) to advance women’s leadership across various domains.
Al Ruwaie highlighted Bahrain’s National Model for Gender Balance, which reflects the country’s success in advancing women’s roles, including holding five ministerial positions, such as the appointment of a female Minister of Sustainable Development in 2022. He also noted the increasing presence of Bahraini women in leadership and decision-making roles.
The ambassador underscored Bahrain’s support for global efforts to empower women and integrate them into sustainable development initiatives.
During the session, member states reviewed progress on implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and sustainable development goals, stressing the need to amend legislation, adopt gender-responsive budgets, and launch awareness programmes to protect females from technological risks while supporting female entrepreneurs.
The organising committee expressed appreciation for member states’ contributions to women’s empowerment and efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination, underscoring the importance of such meetings in sharing best practices.
On the sidelines of the session, Lulwa Saleh Al Awadhi, SCW Secretary-General, met with Amal Ammar, President of Egypt’s National Council for Women, to discuss cooperation and the exchange of expertise, particularly in gender-responsive budgeting and equal opportunity committees. They also reviewed renewing the 2008 memorandum of understanding between the two councils.
Al Awadhi invited Egypt’s National Council for Women to participate in the third edition of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment, launched at the session. She noted that nominee Nawal Sayed Mostafa Attia of Egypt won the Individuals category in the 2022 edition.
Additionally, the SCW delegation attended a side event organised by Oman’s Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with the Arab League, highlighting success stories of Omani women in technology and science.