Bahraini Women & the Peace Protest

From AhlulBayt News Agency:

Dozens are detained in prison facing torture and humiliation for participating in peaceful protests. Bahrain regime is killing, detaining, physically and verbally abusing and dismissing women from work and education.

Bahrain center for Human Rights strongly condemns the ongoing crackdown against the peaceful protesters in Bahrain, specially the repression and detention of a great number of Bahraini women such as political and social activists, doctors, teachers, housewives as well as school and university students. These women are facing torture as well as physical and verbal abuses that leads to death in some cases; in addition to the dismissal from work and education. This is thought to be a vengeance against Bahraini women for the key role they played since the beginning of the protests; a way to force them giving up that role and retreat any activity they had in the protesting movement since last February. It is also a way to add pressure on the opposition to retreat their legitimate demands.

Since the early days of the Bahraini revolution on February 14th, 2011, Bahraini women participated as an active and influential entity in the protests. They advanced in great numbers on the front lines of the peaceful protests and expressed their opinion by demanding their political and human rights, giving speeches and reciting poetry. Their presence in the Pearl Square -The symbol of Bahrain’s revolution- was significant in taking up management roles, rescuing those injured by the excessive force used by Bahraini security forces; as well as documenting the brutalities committed against protesters and speaking to various media outlets[2] .

It is due to the active roles played by Bahraini women, that the authorities conducted a crackdown attacking and detaining them and anyone who they believe participated in the protests. The crackdown reached its peak with the arrest of unprecedented numbers of women in the history of Bahrain [over 100 woman during less than 2 months]; as well as the direct shooting of a woman by a sniper in Bahrain’s army. Thousands of women find themselves in poor psychological condition due to threats and intimidations faced and fear of injury, detention and losing their jobs and studies.

Continue to read about the real cost of peaceful protest in Bahrain at ABNA.

 

Biographies of Women in the Memory of the Nation

From Khaleej Times Online:

A women’s group in Bahrain plans to highlight achievements of ordinary working women in a specially designed project.

The project is looking for midwives, saleswomen, massage therapists and those involved in the business of herbal and traditional medicines.

The project named ‘Biographies of Women in the Memory of the Nation’ will be launched by Awal Women Society on March 6 to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Fatima Shamsan, a businesswomen, will be the first person to be profiled under the project.

The biographies of these women will be printed in a book form. The society will create a database about them. Dr Al Najar said through the project the society wanted to highlight extraordinary roles of women in their neighbourhoods and their contribution to Bahrain’s development.

Bahrain: Jobs For Women

From Gulf Daily News:

MORE than 5,800 job vacancies in the public and private sector will be offered to unemployed Bahraini women at a job and training exhibition opening on Monday.

Around 3,000 unemployed women have been invited to attend the event, which is the first of its kind in Bahrain. The minimum wage offered will be BD400 for university graduates and BD250 for undergraduates.

The Job and Training Exhibition for Unemployed Bahraini Women is being held under patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and the chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women.

Bahrain: Women & Domestic Violence

From Gulf Daily News:

A NETWORK of prominent Bahraini men is hoping to introduce legislation to specifically protect women from domestic violence.

If passed, the bill would cover the penalties associated with violence against women in the home, workplace and in public.

The law could include a clause making it mandatory for television programmes and films that show violence against women to appear with an advisory about the penalties associated with such acts.

Extremely violent films or programmes could also be censored or banned under the new bill.

Bahrain: Women & Divorce

From Gulf Daily News:

A CAMPAIGN is being stepped up to ensure that women in Bahrain emerge from divorce with alimony, rightful custody of their children and a roof over their heads.

A Bahrain society is calling for law reforms and practical strategies to ensure divorced women their rights, without agonising court battles.

Bahrain Women's Association for Human Development wants legislation and society to reflect the Quranic concept of divorce, which states a wife either be returned to her husband or "released (divorced) in kindness".

It says that far from being "released in kindness", many women suffer long court battles trying to secure custody, alimony and a place to live.

"Cases of divorce are increasing in courts and women suffer because they have to go to the court and it takes a long time to be resolved and they might not have money or a home," association board member Ebtisam Zaid told the GDN.

"They are not doing what the Quran says. It says let her return to her husband or be released in kindness, but a lot of women suffer.

Bahrain: Women Make Progress in Healthcare

From Gulf Daily News:

Bahraini women's role in the health sector was yesterday praised by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

The country should be proud of the progress made in empowering women to fulfil crucial roles, said the wife of His Majesty King Hamad and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women.

She was speaking as she awarded 39 women during a celebration to mark Bahraini Women Day at the Health Ministry's College of Health Sciences.

According to the latest figures released by the government, nearly 60 per cent of doctors working for Bahrain's Health Ministry are women.

They account for 57pc of doctors and 67pc of dentists.

Sixty per cent of all Health Ministry employees are women and 81pc of them are Bahraini, said Health Ministry public health and primary care assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma.

"Female nurses make up 88pc, while women in supervisory positions are 51pc, specialist ranks 58pc, and executive ranks 44pc of Bahrainis for 2008," she said.