Role of Bahraini Women in Kingdom of Bahrain

 By: Ahlam JanahiPresident

Bahrain Businesswomen Society

Board Member Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Head of Exhibitions Committee

Ambassador of Entrepreneurs – United Nations (ARCEIT)

During the era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa He supported women empowerment in various field - Political, Economical and Social with the support of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa

Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

King of theKingdom of Bahrain

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa

Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and

First Deputy Prime Minister ofKingdom of Bahrain

INTRODUCTION:

• Bahrain Businesswomen Society established in year 2000 as the first Businesswomen Society ( BBS) in the Gulf region.

OBJECTIVES:

Empowering women in their business activities, locally , regionally and internationally.

Developing and promoting social and economical relations among business women.

Promoting and strengthening the role of Bahraini women and their participation in all commercial, economical, investment, and developmental activities in the country.

Targeting for Bahrain Businesswomen to be in board of Chamber of Commerce, banks and investment companies.

Ensuring Bahraini Businesswomen participation in conferences and working to achieve cooperation and exchange of experiences and ideas with Gulf, Arab Countries, and the world in general.

Bahrain Economic Vision

Bahrain’s Economic Vision focuses on shaping the vision of the government, society and the economy, based around three guiding principles; sustainability, fairness and competitiveness.

In 2010, Bahraini Businesswomen Society and 9 other Businesswomen Societies in the Middle East and North Africa, incorporated in Bahrain the MENA Businesswomen Network established in 2010.

First Mena BWN Forum Dubai, April 2012

First Mena BWN Forum Dubai, April 2012

MENA BWN member countries (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia, and the UAE)

Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Wife of His Majesty the King President of the Supreme Council for Women has been the honorary President of the Society until 2005. Since then, HRH continues to support strongly Bahrain Businesswomen Society. Presently, HRH Shaihka Thajiba Bint Salman Al Khalifa is BBS honorary President and plays a major role in supporting BBWS. ( Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society)

Vice-President of the Supreme Council for Women meets with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Kingdom of Bahrain joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 18/6/2002 and it came into force on on 18.07.2002.

Through it’s various activities conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Panel Discussions Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society successfully managed to engage the Society at large. BBS gained high status and recognition from Civil Society as well as the government in Bahrain.   With Supreme council , BBS has continue to achieve their goals in empowering women The Council was established in 2001 by a decree from HRM the King of Bahrain and headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Wife of HM the King President of the Supreme Council for Women.

Bahrain Businesswomen Society organised a number of events, workshops and conferences with cooperation of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) trough Businesswomen Committee BCCI.

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues its support to Bahraini Business women since its establishment till present.

Event: Workshop on Entrepreneurship “ Innovation : From idea to reality.

Event :Leadership Meeting

“The participation of women entrepreneurs has increased by 59 per cent in the last one year,” UN Industrial Development Organization (Unido)director Hashim Hussein told the GDN. “The success rate of women is higher than men’s.“Also, the Bahrain Model for Entrepreneurship Development and Enterprise Development, which is implemented in more than 68 countries, draws its core support from women. “Four Bahraini women were chosen as entrepreneur ambassadors at thegeneral conference of UNIDO last year,” he added during a visit to the BahrainBusinesswomen Society (BBS).

GDN interview July 25, 2012

UNIDO has played a big and strong role in BBS objectives in Promoting and strengthening the role of Bahraini Businesswomen and their participation in all commercial, economical, investment, and developmental activities in the country.

Members of Bahrain Businesswomen Society with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of Bahrain’s Economic Development Board.

BBS appreciates Tamkeen ‘sprogrammes in supporting Businesswomen at all levels .

Bahrain Businesswomen are capable of taking up challenging roles in all fields and sectors.

Bahrain Businesswomen Society has achieved goals during the last 14 years.

Bahrain Businesswomen Society will be celebrating its 14th Founding Anniversary on May 23rd , 2014. Today, drafts of Government Laws are presented to Bahrain Businesswomen Society for BBS input and recommendation. BBS is already represented in the most of the government /private sector committees and their participation are strongly requested in most of the official events.

BBS continuity in cooperating and communicating has been always the keys through success, with the support of its members.

Women members of Parliament and Shura Council actively participated in the National Dialogue that was launched on 2nd July 2011 to address the concerns of all Bahrain stakeholders in the progress of Bahrain

ACHIEVEMENTS

Four women on BCCI's board -

Shaikha Hind bint Salman

Al Khalifa

Ahlam JanahiDeema

Al-Haddad

2014

Afnan Al Zayani

Bahrain women MPs set to make a difference in Parliament.

Since parliamentary elections in 2002, several women are represented to play a role in political decision-making.

Women Gateway, which was established in 2002 is fully owned by the Bahrain Businesswomen Society (BBS) -a bilingual portal designed to aid businesswomen by providing them with information, business and trade opportunities with the focus being on women issues and women empowerment in the region. Women Gateway has evolved from being a portal initially aimed at businesswomen of Bahrain , to one that provides a more horizontal vision of attracting women from all walks of life in order to encourage women’ s empowerment.

BBS one of the greatest Achievement

Thank you