Manama: Bahrain’s national dialogue sessions are set to start on Tuesday evening with 60 participants engaging in talks on each of the four topics.
The dialogue was formally launched on Saturday by Khalifa Al Dhahrani, the lower chamber speaker and chairman of the dialogue, at a ceremony that brought together the 300 participants named by their parties, NGOs, media, trade union and rights groups.
“The talks under the political theme will address political societies, while the economic session will look into the reality of competitiveness of the national economy and ways to boost it,” Eisa Abdul Rahman, the dialogue spokesman, said.
Women's and children's rights
“The issues of women and children’s rights are to be debated under the legal theme, and youth affairs will be discussed under the social theme,” he said.
Organisers had asked participants to hand in their views on the political, social, economic and rights themes ahead of the talks. Their visions were later categorized and put up for discussion.
Al Wefaq, the largest opposition society, has charged that the organizers deliberately ignored some “hot” issues and kept them off the table.
However, Eisa Abdul Rahman denied the charges and said that all submitted views would be discussed.
Al Wefaq had not submitted its visions and confirmed its participation only hours before the dialogue was opened.
Sectarianism in politics
“The political discussions will address sectarianism in politics, the advantages and constraints of the current political associations law and the development of conditions for the establishment of political associations,” Eisa Abdul Rahman said.
“They will also cover major issues related to the development and financing of political societies, and their external and international communication.”
Delegates taking up the economic theme will discuss the national economy’s competitiveness levels and the impact of the financial crisis on the national economy. “The session will also discuss regional and international competitiveness in Bahrain, diversifying sources of the national income, real estate development in addition to the growth of the tourism sector,” he said.
At the legal session, participants will address children’s rights in Bahrain and review the challenges confronting people with special needs.
“This session will also discuss issues related to the advantages of issuing the family law and the factors impeding the issuance of the law, in addition to the challenges faced by Bahraini women,” the spokesman said.
Youth issues
Youth issues will top the first session of the social theme with the delegates reviewing the performance of official youth institutions, the reality and challenges of associations and youth centres, youth and politics and the economic empowerment of young people.
Talks will be held three times a week, between five and nine in the evening to ensure a wide participation. Those engaged in the dialogue could not be released from their daytime jobs and the evening talks were considered the best option, dialogue organisers said.
No media will be allowed to attend the talks held in four separate halls.
