PARLIAMENT has pledged to take on board recommendations to emerge from a women's forum yesterday.
The First Parliamentary Women Forum took place at the Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gulf Hotel.
Around 100 women attended the event, held in partnership with the Supreme Council for Women and female societies and clubs.
Their recommendations included cultural and sports festivals exclusively for women, more empowerment programmes and formation of equal opportunities unit in all government bodies.
Parliament chairman Ahmed Al Mulla said issues raised would be discussed by MPs.
"It is the first forum of its type in parliament's 12-year history and shows that women's issues are important to us," said Mr Al Mulla.
"Our plan is to hold it annually as it will highlight women's issues that we need to tackle in parliament.
"Now there are plans to make the temporary woman and child committee a permanent parliamentary committee and give it full status as a member of the general-secretariat office due to its vitality and importance.
"I acknowledge that there are several male MPs who have missed out the forum, that's up to them, but those in attendance are qualified and can handle the task."
He said various women-related bills were going through parliament and the Shura Council.
"We have the Family Protection Law and giving children of Bahraini mothers nationality, besides removing Bahrain's reservations on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that is with MPs and Shura Council members, will be pushed ahead."
Parliament woman and child committee chairwoman Dr Jameela Al Sammak pledged women's demands would be adopted by MPs.
"We have already made an outline in co-ordination with the Supreme Council for Women and specifics will be determined by those in attendance as we promote it as recommendations on the open floor," she said.
Supreme Council for Women secretary-general Hala Al Ansari said more support was needed for the National Women Empowerment Strategy.
"The strategy tackles all issues, but it needs strengthening and parliament's recommendations will feed into that," she said.
By Mohammed Al A'Ali
