Bahraini.TV

Bahrain’s women work to win more parliamentary seats

Just eight women ran in Bahrain’s first general election in 2002, with the number increasing to 18 four years later. Despite a handful of close races in 2006, only one woman managed to secure a seat in the country’s fledgling parliament, after she ran unopposed.

But if May al Otaibi and others have anything to do with it, female candidates will have a good chance during Bahrain’s next general election slated for November 2010.

Bahrain’s Silenced Assaults

Sexual Assault in the Workplace is on the Rise in the Wealthy Gulf state but Women Remain Quiet for Fear of Repercussions.
[Manama, Bahrain] Eman has taken on two jobs to support her family but every day when she goes to work she fears inappropriate sexual remarks and advances from her boss.
“I have not informed my [...]

Housing help for women

Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women (SCW) chairwoman, yesterday distributed 274 housing services for Bahraini women.
The packages will benefit ‘custody mothers’ and female breadwinners.
Addressing a ceremony at the Riffa-based SCW headquarters, secretary general Lulwa Al Awadhi described the allocation as epitomising [...]

Ruqaya ends glittering career

Golden Girl Ruqaya Al Ghasra stunned the Bahrain sports world last night after announcing her retirement from competitive athletics.
The 27-year-old multi-titled sprinter revealed the sad and unexpected news in front of a handful of shocked media members in a conference held at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Ruqaya said that concern for her overall health was [...]

EDB: Women have vital role in Bahrain Vision 2030

Bahraini women are central to Bahrain’s Vision 2030 and National Economic Strategy, said Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Kingdom’s Economic Development Board (EDB), on the second Bahrain Women’s Day.
December 1st marked the first anniversary of the Kingdom’s inaugural Women’s Day. Announced last year by Bahrain’s First Lady and Chairwoman [...]

New Family Law for Sunni Women in Bahrain Not for Shiites

A new family law for Sunnis, which protects the rights of women in Shariah (Islamic) law courts, was approved by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, on May 27. Women’s activists have pledged to continue their fight for a just law for the Gulf Arab kingdom’s Shiites.
The law-making lower and upper houses had approved [...]

E-Project Attracts Bahraini Women

A young Bahraini woman has established her dream project of “Souq Bahrain”, an e-shopping forum that has attracted, since its establishment in December, more than 500 members from various countries.
Eman Mandi, 23, feels that her business project took time to materialise, but now she is content that she is walking on solid ground.
“The forum allows [...]

TV drive for ‘clean’ shows

Any show that may harm the image of Bahraini women’s are banned from being screened by the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation, Information Minister Jehad Bukamal said yesterday.
TV drama writers have been strongly instructed not to write anything that may give a negative impression of Bahraini women, the minister told Shura Council members at their [...]

Enterprising Women

Hailed as a regional leader in promoting greater involvement of women in business, Bahrain’s efforts to assist start-up enterprises and the liberalising of its economy have been touted as major factors in this success.
Bahrain’s model for assisting business start ups, with support services providing training, financing and marketing, has been a catalyst for creating a [...]

Women fight to keep freedom

Women’s rights activists in Bahrain have pledged to fight any laws proposed by the new parliament that could reduce their freedom.
Amnesty International (AI) Bahrain’s head of campaigns, Fawzia Rabea, yesterday urged women to do everything in their power to prevent radical policies being implemented.
Her comments come after new MP Sayed Abdulla Al A’ali said he [...]

Study highlights needs of Bahrain’s female convicts

The living conditions of female prisoners are the focus of a study by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW).
SCW General Secretary Lulwa Al Awadi said in a press note that the study’s results would be included in the Kingdom’s report for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
“The study [...]

16 sign up for pageant

Sixteen women from eight countries have joined the July Rose 2006 beauty pageant.
They include four Indians, two Pakistanis, two Filipinas, three Ethiopians, one South African, one Briton, two Americans and a Bahraini.
The contest, which marks its 14th anniversary this year, will be held on July 27 at the Baan Saeng Thai auditorium in Adliya.
Last year’s [...]

Parks to ban ‘ogling’ men

Women-only days will be brought in at selected parks in the Central Governorate following complaints that women are being ogled by men.
The pilot scheme is being introduced by the Central Municipal Council on certain days and at certain times, but could be rolled out to all parks in the area if it is successful.
Municipal councillor [...]

Sex op woman’s fight for identity

A Bahraini woman undergoing a sex change operation is going to court in a bid to legally recognise her new status as a man.
Lawyer Fowzia Mohammed Janahi, who is acting for the 30-year-old, says her client was born without all the female organs and in her mind believes she is a man.
The woman, whose identity [...]

Bahrain’s women leading the way

UNITED NATIONS: Bahrain’s first female diplomat, Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa, will be formally elected tomorrow as the next president of the UN General Assembly, UN officials said.
Shaikha Haya, a champion of women’s rights in Islamic courts and one of the first two Bahraini women to practice law in the country, beginning in 1975, [...]