Achieving prominent positions is a familiar occurrence

Manama: When Shaikha Haya Bint Rashid Al Khalifa was elected as the first Arab and Muslim woman to preside over the UN General Assembly, few eyebrows were raised in Bahrain.

After all, Bahraini women achieving prominent national and international positions has become a familiar occurrence. Women have always been at the forefront of progress, deeply influenced by high educational levels and intense contacts with the international community.

"Unfortunately, most chapters of this success story have been under the impetus of the country's leaders with little input from society," journalist Lamees Dhaif yesterday told Gulf News.

"While the country's leaders have been pushing for a more open approach towards women's rights and international successes, many people are slow to follow, let alone, to match the speed and outreach of the vision for equal opportunities," she added. "The leaders are far ahead."

Activist Ghada Jamsheer said successes have to be sustained by greater support from the people.

"It is a tragedy that women in Bahrain are holding high positions in several areas, yet do not have a family law that would protect them from domestic and legal injustices," she said. "We have been pioneers in almost all areas, except in the promulgation of a law that would help women enjoy a greater level of family security," said Ghada.

The Supreme Council for Women last year launched a nationwide campaign for the protection of women and families through the promulgation of the law.

The campaign was fiercely resisted by conservatives who said the family law could violate Islamic precepts.

Achievements in the island kingdom

Politics

• President of the United Nations General Assembly
• Two ministers (Health and Social Development)
• Six appointed members of parliament
• Parliament elections (2002): 8 women out of 177 candidates
• Municipal elections (2002): 31 women out of 306 candidates

Public offices

• Director of the Bahrain Institute for Political Development
• Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women
• Assistant Undersecretaries

Judiciary

• First woman judge in the Arabian Gulf
• First three female public prosecutors appointed in 2003

Human Rights

• Head of the Bahrain Human Rights Society
• Head of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society

Education

• The first government school for girls was established in 1928 (the first in the Arabian Gulf)
• President of the University of Bahrain
• Illiteracy among females in Bahrain was reduced from 76% in 1971 to 17% in 2001, and to only 4% among females under the age of 44
• The percentage of Bahraini female students' admission to primary education was 100% (2003)
• The percentage of Bahraini female students' admission to secondary education was 87% (2003)