WUNRN
GCC - Cooperation Council for the
Arab States of the Persian Gulf Region.
BAHRAIN & GULF WOMEN RALLY FOR
STRONGER VOICES
REGIONAL & GLOBAL, & FOR
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCACY
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WOMEN from across the Gulf are being urged to join forces to make their voices heard on the global stage. That is the message being sent to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) trying to win more rights for the region's female populations. The rallying call was issued yesterday by the Bahrain Women's Association for Human Development, with organisation vice-president Dr Wajeeha Al Baharna planning meetings with women's rights groups across the GCC. "It's stronger when a speech or letter we send is from a collective group of organisations," she said. Dr Al Baharna was speaking on the sidelines of an awareness meeting for women's rights NGOs held at the Elite Grande Hotel, Seef. "I really en-courage all NGOs in Bahrain and the GCC and especially women groups to be proactive and say what is happening now and take action, we have an active role to play," she said. Dr Al Baharna said the world viewed the GCC as a wealthy region that doesn't need as much help as others, but many women were living in poor conditions and lack a range of rights. "There are people in Bahrain living in poor conditions, but we don't get help because we are in the GCC," Dr Al Baharna told the GDN. "We are still struggling for the nationality right (for Bahraini women to extend their nationality to their children), a family law for Shi'ites and a law criminalising violence whether domestic or in general. "Also political participation is still not there, we are trying to get elected to parliament and we are still behind in economic empowerment." She said by collaborating, women's rights NGOs in the Gulf could benefit more from the newly-formed UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. "Now that UN Women has been set up, it's a big thing for women NGOs to benefit from this organisation," said Dr Al Baharna. "We must try to co-ordinate between us in Bahrain and the region in order to have common recommendations and suggestions to raise. "This will ensure that they can hear our concerns and demands, not as the government says, but from our own experience." UN Women was created by the UN General Assembly in July last year and will officially be launched on February 24 during the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). It will be held at the UN Headquarters in New York from February 22 to March 4. UN Development Pro-gramme (UNDP) resident representative and UN resident co-ordinator Sayed Aqa said the creation of UN Women came as part of its reform agenda. He said the main role of UN Women is to support inter-governmental bodies, such as the CSW, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms. It will help member states implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it as well as forge effective partnerships with civil society. The organisation will also hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress. "Civil societies have been a very strong motivator for the creation of UN Women and it will continue to work to bring the voice of civil society movements to be heard," said Mr Aqa. "It will also provide assistance to women's civil societies to be more effective on the ground. "In Bahrain the UN system is committed to assist in the empowerment of women politically, economically and socially and will join UN agencies and UN Women to enhance all efforts at the government and civil societies levels. Challenges "We are proud that Bahrain is the first country to launch the Men's Network to End Violence Against Women and we hope it will continue and further enhance because the challenges of women can't be solved unless we partner with men," Mr Aqa said. Meanwhile, Dr Al Baharna and association president Saba Al Asfoor are scheduled to attend the 55th session of the CSW. On the sidelines of the forum on February 25, the association will hold a workshop on women's rights issues in Bahrain and its latest activities and campaign in this regard, in addition to success stories. The association holds consultative status with
the UN Economic and Social Council and the CSW. |