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New Women's Council Established in Bahrain
MANAMA, Aug 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A pioneering new Supreme Council for Women was set up by the Emir of Bahrain to aid the government in policy-making decisions regarding women's issues, news agencies and Bahraini papers reported Thursday.
Emir Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khlifa ordered the formation of the 14-member council, which will be headed by the Emir's wife, Sheikha Sabika bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Sheikha Sabika hailed the Emir's decision to set up the council, saying that it marks an important step for the future of Bahraini women.
"The establishment of the council is a declaration that a new era of the serious work started by our pioneering women at the start of the last century has begun," she said.
The council - which will help the government draw up wide-ranging policies on women's issues in Bahrain - will operate under the direct supervision of the Emir, who will later issue a decree appointing the members; their terms will run for three years and be renewable, reported the Bahraini newspaper, The Gulf Daily News.
The council will suggest a general policy to be adopted in developing women's affairs in constitutional and civil organizations in Bahrain and will encourage women to take part in Bahrain's comprehensive development, said the paper.
It will also put into practice the principles affecting women, which are contained in the National Action Charter.
Members can recommend amendments to existing legislation concerning women and submit suggestions about new laws and regulations.
At Arab and international women's forums, the council will represent Bahraini women and establish a center to collect information and conduct relevant research.
Members will hold conferences, seminars and meetings to discuss women's topics, raise public awareness of women's rights and issue magazines and electronic publications on the council's objectives.
They will also look into issues referred to the council by the Emir, and through the formation of permanent profession committees will deal separately with areas such as education and training, research and studies, health, media and culture, legal affairs, political participation, non-governmental organizations and foreign relations.
Meetings will be held at least once every two months and resolutions will be approved by a majority vote. In the event of a tie, the chairwoman will have the casting vote.
The creation of the council comes amid moves - led by Bahrain's Emir - aimed at restoring the country's democratic parliament, which was dissolved in 1975 and sparked years of civil unrest within the context of a constitutional monarchy.
Changes were outlined in a national charter, which was supported by 98.4% of the vote in February's referendum, promising equal rights for men and women.
Parliamentary elections are due to be held by 2003.
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