Riffa:The Supreme Council for Women (SCW), in collaboration with the Civil Service Bureau (CSB), conducted a forum at its headquarters to enhance the work mechanisms of equal opportunities committees within government entities.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the forum's objective was to advance the operation of these committees in line with Civil Service Instructions No. (1) of 2026, which mandates the establishment of an equal opportunities committee at each government entity. Lulwa bint Saleh Al Awadhi, Secretary General of the SCW, conveyed greetings from Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa and praised the CSB's cooperation in achieving gender balance objectives.
Al Awadhi emphasized the SCW's dedication to supporting gender balance with various partners, particularly the CSB, and commended government entities for initiating and activating their equal opportunities committees. She noted that the SCW is committed to working with these committees to enhance Bahrain's standing in international reports, referencing positive outcomes from the World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Gender Gap Report.
The forum was an outcome of a previous event held last February and included discussions on the Civil Service Council's decision and the committees' operational mechanisms. Reem Hassan Marhoon, Director General of Policy and Wages at the CSB, reiterated the Bureau's commitment to its partnership with the SCW and recognized the broad participation and commitment of committee members.
CSB representatives provided details on the establishment of equal opportunities committees, highlighting their responsibilities in developing policies, budgets, and training programs responsive to women's needs. They emphasized the importance of these committees in promoting workplace fairness as part of Bahrain's vision for sustainable development.
The forum concluded with participant discussions on monitoring the implementation of equal opportunities and gender balance principles, including in recruitment, training, and promotion. Participants also addressed the preparation of annual reports to track the effectiveness of these initiatives within government entities.