Bahrain’s nascent democracy is the way forward

Manama, July3 (BNA): Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh today received Information Affairs Minister, Bahrain Institute of Political Development (BIPD) Board of Trustees’ Chairman Ali bin Mohammed Al-Rumaihi who submitted the 2015 BIPD Report. Al-Saleh commended the BIPD-led efforts to develop democratic practices, enhance awareness and disseminate the objectives of the reform project, which was initiated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. He stressed the keenness of the Upper House to strengthen cooperation with the institute to activate joint cooperation to foster political and legislative culture among the Shura Council members and General-Secretariat employees. The minister affirmed the drive of the institute to continue lining up programmes and training courses to strengthen democratic principles and support the bicameral system and promote political awareness among citizens so as to express opinions peacefully and renounce divisive calls, bigotry and hate-mongering. He stressed Bahrain’s democratic strides in establishing the state of laws and institutions, ever since the National Action Charter was endorsed in 2001 by a sweeping 98.4% majority which reflected unwavering people’s support to the reform project. "Bahrain, with its millennia-old history, national unity, democratic and development strides, is far stronger than any external interference and suspicious plots which seek to import failed regional agenda that spew hatred, harbor terrorism, fuel sectarianism and sow divisions between people", he said. He said that the rule of the law, loyalty to the nation and its wise leadership transcend all allegiance to the sect, race or foreign-backed political agendas. Al-Rumaihi expressed confidence in conscious-minded Bahrainis to express opinions through peaceful channels and stand united against the scourges of violence and sabotage, which represent crimes against humanity and an affront to religious values and tenets. "External threats and despicable crimes will never intimidate Bahrain into backing from enforcing the law and court verdicts on terrorists and instigators so as to maintain national security and stability ensure citizens’ safety and protect the democratic process. The people of Bahrain, have a long history of peaceful democratic practices, noting that women first took part in the municipal elections as early as 1923. Bahraini women were real trailblazers, as they first entered government schools in 1928, founded the first non-governmental women association in Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf region in 1955. In the prosperous era of HM the King, women acquired all their political and constitutional rights, which enabled them to cast votes and run in the municipal elections since 2002. Now that the Bahrain’s democracy has matured, women have also consolidated the presence in public life, controlling 15% of the seats in the Upper and Lower House, 10% of the municipal seats and holding high positions in the judiciary, public and private sectors, civil society institutions and international organizations. The 2015 BIPD Report featured 30 training schemes, 59 awarness-enhancing functions which attracted 1661 participants – 226 attended workshops, 735 benefited from forums and lectures and 700 others in the 3rd GCC Forum for Political Media. Overall more than 4400 contestants and 7350 others benefited from three BIPD exhibitions. The 2015 BIPD Reports also cited 20 new publications, in addition to more than 4600 press items, including articles, news and columns read by up to 2.6 million people.