SHEIKHA Sabikah bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifah, wife of Bahraini King Hamad ibn Issa Al-Khalifah, is unique in her dedication to the service of women in Bahrain in particular and in Arab countries in general. Her hands are always full of numerous activities aimed at women’s empowerment. No conference, large or small, concerned with women’s affairs takes place in Bahrain without her playing a major role in it.
In an interview with Hia, she unveiled her future vision for women in her country and talked about her present activities. She spoke about the challenges faced by the Supreme Council for Women, an advisory body chaired by Sheikha Sabikah which assists the government in formulating policies on women’s issues.
Sheikha Sabikah attributed the failure of women to win seats in Bahrain’s last parliamentary elections despite being well qualified to a number of factors.
“In addition to other factors that influence democratic elections in any country, I add the factor of the novelty of the experiment in Bahrain. What is more relevant in this context is the fact that women’s participation in the country’s democratic process has been implemented institutionally and realistically,” she said.
Sheikha Sabikah does not doubt the success of the democratic experiment in the sense that women have succeeded in the primary stage by proving their worthiness to represent the people and understand their needs. She also noted that several women candidates succeeded in winning more votes than many of their male counterparts. However, she believes that women are required to make more efforts to make the experiment a total success.
“First of all we should identify the obstacles that stand in the way of women achieving their goals. We are examining the results of the last election and the way women performed in it. I am personally convinced that any result of a free election is, undoubtedly, the expression of the people’s choice.”
Sheikha Sabikah rejects the suggestion that the women candidates failed to win because women voters refused to support them. She also does not support the idea of gender discrimination in which men support males and women supporting females. She maintains, on the other hand, that a candidate, regardless of gender, should be representing and working for the interests of all in the country.
“On the other hand, a notable feature of the 2006 elections was the clear support given by men to women candidates. The men were on campaign committees for women candidates as they were husbands, brothers or sons of candidates,” Sheikha Sabikah pointed out.
Replying to a question about the role of the Supreme Council for Women in helping women participate fully in the democratic process, Sheikha Sabikah said that the experience of the 2004 elections had prompted the council to prepare women for public activities. It has chalked out a program for women’s political empowerment with the cooperation of all concerned parties plus the United Nation’s Developmental Program. Its aim is to prepare Bahraini women for full participation in political life by organizing training and information courses. Sheikha Sabikah affirmed that the program had achieved its goal by developing Bahraini women’s skills as people’s representatives in democratic institutions, though they failed to win in the elections.
Sheikha Sabikah does not support the idea of a quota system for women in Parliament. She believes that society will give women their due rights even without a quota system because “The governments in Gulf countries have been making remarkable progress for women and society is desirous of bringing about a balanced and fair participation of women in elections. Having achieved a high level of progress, our society is capable of reviewing, if necessary, the methods of women’s participation.”
Another reason why she opposes a quota is because it contradicts the Bahraini constitution which stipulates that political rights should be given fully and equally to all citizens. “However, I am not against any transitional measures to make women increase their preparedness for fair and equal participation in the elections. Our political empowerment program is an example.”
Sheikha Sabikah said she viewed with pride the fact that a Bahraini woman, Sheikha Haya bint Rashid Al-Khalifah was appointed chairperson of the 61st session of the United Nations. She is the first Arab and Muslim woman to take this prestigious position. Sheikha Sabikah also appreciates the appointment of the first woman judge and prosecutor in Bahrain. She attributes these achievements to women’s education that was introduced in the region in the early twenties of the last century. Since then Bahraini women have been striving to enter every profession in both the government and the private sector. Education has enabled Bahraini women to hold high positions in the social, cultural, political and professional spheres.
Achievements and Challenges
Royal decree increased the number of women members of Bahrain’s Shoura Council to 10 which is 25 percent of the total membership. Commenting on this, Sheikha Sabikah said that this was the best example of the mature political will of the government and its absolute faith in women’s capabilities. In this way women can participate in the ongoing efforts for change and reform in the country. She pointed out that there are in fact 11 women members in the national Parliament, including a member in the council of deputies. There are two women ministers who hold the portfolios of health and social development, she added.
The first lady of Bahrain considered the finding of an effective scheme to solve issues related to family stability and poverty as major challenges faced by the Supreme Council for Women. “I am speaking about the simple demands of Bahraini women which require systematic support on a realistic plane.” The council will finalize the integrated action plan for women’s all-round progress in collaboration with related ministries, civilian organizations and the private sector, she said.
She believes that women’s roles in the social and economic progress of the Arab world in general and in the Gulf in particular are very positive. Women can overcome poverty and illiteracy, the two most serious problems hampering them, by resorting to education and work. If the current momentum in women’s education in the Gulf is maintained, they will be ready for any responsible role shortly, she said.
Commenting on some women’s demand for total equality with men, Sheikha Sabikah said she welcomed the idea if it meant giving woman rights with perfect fairness and guaranteeing a dignified life. On the contrary, if equality meant ignoring the differences between man and woman, it would be a denial of their physical differences. “We should strive as much as possible to maintain equality with due consideration for the peculiar physical features of male and female,” she said.
Describing the role and activities of the Arab Women’s Organization (AWO), which she currently heads, Sheikha Sabikah said the AWO could provide a true picture of Arab women and remove all misunderstanding surrounding them in the west. With this in mind, the AWO has produced special programs to educate Arab women of their historical role and status within the Arab and Islamic world. This would help in understanding where they stand now and how to advance and develop strategies to enhance their role. The organization has planned several seminars at foreign universities and made exchange visits; it also strives to develop woman’s skills in various fields.
The AWO strives to bring about solidarity Arab women and take a uniform stand on problems they face. The organization has also attempted to draw public attention to the sufferings of women in conflict situations, particularly in Palestine and Lebanon. The AWO conference held in Bahrain in November proposed a campaign to release Palestinian women and children prisoners from Israeli jails. It has developed programs to protect the Arab women from becoming helpless victims of armed occupation and armed confrontations.
Sheikha Sabikah said the AWO’s Bahrain conference had planned to prepare the first report on women’s awakening in Arab countries. The report is expected to be released by the middle of this year. Though she wanted the AWO to provide faster and better service to women, she was skeptical about its capability to go ahead with its programs in the planned manner until its financial problems have been addressed. These problems arise from some member countries not fulfilling their financial commitments to the organization and also to the fact that there are only 15 members as some Arab countries have not joined.
Sheikha Sabikah said her winning of the Ahmad Al-Fatih Award from King Hamad had meant a great deal to her, especially since it was an additional boost to her determination to serve the country and support the king in his efforts to improve the condition of women.
