On Friday 7 September, the general director of policies and development at the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) in Bahrain, Shaikha Deena Rashid Al Khalifa, said that her country was seeking possible collaboration with the EU on women's rights.
"It is important to discuss the latest progress in women's rights (Ed: in Bahrain) and to welcome any type of collaboration or exchange that could come", she said. She added that the goal was also to see how it would be possible to share experience and learn from others by exchanging good practice on women and gender equality. The equality of men and women is written into the Bahraini constitution.
During her visit to Brussels, Al Khalifa met European Commissioner for Gender Equality Věra Jourová.
Al Khalifa was also in Brussels to promote the Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women's Empowerment. This award was launched in Bahrain in 2007 and is a way to highlight and reward the contribution of the public and private sector to women's rights, she said. With the aid of the UN, the award has now become international, in order "to learn from the experience of other countries", Al Khalifa stated. Four categories will be rewarded: the public sector, the private sector, civil society and individuals. Applications need to be submitted by 25 September.
Further information can be found at: http://www.womenglobalaward.org/en. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Marion Fontana)