Call for women's poll quota in Bahrain rejected

The wife of Bahrain's King yesterday rejected calls by women groups to set a quota for female candidates in Parliament.

The idea is against the constitutional principle of gender equality, said Shaikha Sabika, wife of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa.

"It would be unjust to differentiate between women and men because they are equal under the law," she told a press conference. She said women can win seats in Parliament on their own merit.

"On my part, I will offer moral and technical help to any woman who believes she is able to shoulder the responsibility of running as candidates in the next elections," due to take place in October 2006, said Shaikha Sabika, who also chairs the Supreme Council for Women.

During the press conference, Shaikha Sabika also outlined a plan to "empower women and boost their chances" in the political process, particularly with regard to next year's Parliamentary elections.

The plan also aims to support women's higher participation in the economy and the education. She said the plan was prepared with the help of the United Nations Development Programme.

Earlier in the day, the president of a leading women's group said Bah-rain should adopt a quota system to ensure women's representation in the elected Parliament.

The system would help Bahraini women overcome the obstacles of "social gender discrimination, under-education and lack of political awareness," Naima Marhoun of the Bahraini Women's Society said.

She said 175 countries, including some Arab countries such as Morocco and Jordan, applied the system.

She said "the disappointing experience" of Bahraini women in the 2002 Parliamentary and municipal elections calls for adopting the system temporarily until "people get use to the idea of entrusting women to high positions."

Shaikh Sabika said the council will exert all possible efforts to help women chances in the next elections by offering electoral training and addressing the cultural and traditional stereotypes that hinder women's participation in the political process.