SCW, BWU discuss cooperation

Manama, Apr. 26 (BNA): The Joint Committee between the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) and the Bahraini Women Union (BWU) held a meeting at the SCW’s premises in Riffa today. Held as part of efforts to activate the joint memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides, the meeting discussed areas of bilateral cooperation. The meeting reviewed the main Bahraini women-supporting laws, resolutions and initiatives, and ways to follow up on their implementation to detect remarks and challenges that may contribute to developing them and achieving maximum benefit from them, as well as to highlight milestones and success stories at the level of family stability. The two sides also discussed cooperation in following up on the activation of the National Strategy to Protect Women from Domestic Violence, and laws related to family affairs, such as the Family Law and the Law on the Protection from Domestic Violence and their executive edicts. They also stressed the need to intensify programmes aimed at raising awareness, promoting legal culture and developing life skills in the field of family counselling for all social segments, especially youth from both sexes. The SCW and the BWU reviewed initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s economic participation, including the Women Development Centre (Riyadat) and the Women's Business Finance Portfolio Programme "Riyadat" to support women in business.  The joint committee also discussed areas of cooperation to continue informing the public about the services and options available for Bahraini women, as well as self-reliance and training in the field of entrepreneurship. The joint meeting also focused on activating the BWU’s participation in this year’s Bahraini Women’s Day, which will be devoted to honouring women in the legislative field and municipal work. The Bahraini Women’s Day 2018 aims to highlight Bahraini women’s strides in the legislative and municipal fields, and shed light on the opportunities and challenges facing them. It will also focus on the role played by the media, civil society and the private sector to support women’s participation in the politics, and representation in the Legislative Branch. The SCW asserted the role played by the BWU, as a civil society organisation, to continue holding plenary sessions and focus groups on various issues related to women’s matters, and political participation.