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SCW presents 2025–2026 National Women’s Advancement Plan to Government Partners
The Supreme Council for Women (SCW) held a coordination meeting with representatives from ministries and official institutions to present the 2025–2026 National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women.
The meeting highlighted the Council’s commitment to national partnership in advancing women’s development, in line with the long-term strategy launched in 2005 under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with oversight by the Supreme Council for Women led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King and President of the Council.
The meeting marked the beginning of a series of similar sessions the Council plans to hold with other national partners involved in implementing the plan, including institutions from the private sector and civil society.
SCW Secretary-General Lulwa Al Awadhi outlined the structure and priorities of the new plan, which brings together initiatives that remain pending from previous phases, alongside programmes aligned with the current Government Action Plan. The plan also introduces a forward-looking approach focused on emerging sectors, such as science, technology and innovation, and positions Bahraini women to take on greater roles at the regional and international levels.
The plan is aligned with the national strategy adopted in 2005 and reflects nearly two decades of institutional learning and progress. It is shaped by key national directives, including the royal order establishing the SCW and its affiliation with the leadership, as well as Bahrain’s broader development visions, such as Economic Vision 2030, the Government Programme 2023–2026, and future planning frameworks extending through 2050.
International benchmarks also played a role in guiding the plan’s design, including recommendations from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and observations noted in Bahrain’s Global Competitiveness Report. The SCW’s legal mandate under Royal Decree No. 44 of 2001, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals particularly Goals 5 and 10 on gender equality and reducing inequality served as further reference points.
Al Awadhi explained that the Council adopted a results-driven methodology in preparing the plan, with clear definitions, measurable indicators, and actionable initiatives sourced directly from competent institutions. The strategy is designed to complement the government’s current theme of moving from recovery to sustainable growth.
She also presented data reflecting the rising presence of Bahraini women across government, private sector and civil society roles, attributing this progress to institutional mechanisms and coordination models that the SCW has developed over the years.
The 2025–2026 plan focuses on four main areas: family stability, decision-making and leadership, economic inclusion, and overall quality of life. These pillars reflect a comprehensive and integrated approach to supporting women’s roles in society and the economy.
Concluding the session, Al Awadhi outlined the Council’s vision beyond 2026, marking a shift from the phase of empowerment and progress to a new chapter focused on leadership and excellence. She noted that this transformation reflects Bahrain’s steady investment in women over the years and its determination to elevate their contributions across all sectors. The next phase, she added, aims to ensure that women’s rights, their roles in development, and the wellbeing of their families remain at the core of national progress, in line with Bahrain’s evolving priorities and global trends.