Bahrain: Activists call for new legislation to empower women in Bahrain

Women remain unequal before the law unless vital legislations pertaining to their rights are passed, according to human rights activists.

As NGOs and pro-women advocacy groups prepare to celebrate anew the International Women’s Day this week, many say that the government had continued to stall proactive action on legislations relating to women.

Among others, the activists cited the lack of action towards the passage of the Family Law and the elimination of discrimination against women. Domestic violence was also one issue that had not been totally addressed with practically no single person ever facing prosecution for physically or verbally assaulting women.

“Many years had passed and we still do not have the laws that have been much talked about. Women still remain at a receiving end,” said Fawzia Rabea, woman rights activist and coordinator of the Al Sharaka movement.

The International Women’s Day will be observed on the 8th of March and local organisations are already lining up activities to mark the day. The Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, with its allied women’s group Respect, noted in its report earlier this month that there were as much as 700 reported cases of domestic violence last year.

“The incidents of domestic violence continued to rise. There is also a rise in cases related to divorce and custody of children,” said Faisal Fulad, society regional director.

Despite the cases being reported, very few of them ever reach prosecution or get fully settled in court because of the lack of legislation, claim women activists. The executive and legislative authorities are yet to enact a unified Family Law and to ensure housemaids’ protection in particular.

Various groups such as the Supreme Council for Women had constantly lobbied for the passage of laws and Bahrain’s full ratification, without reservation, of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Bahrain ratified the said convention but with reservation in 2002.

The government had taken steps to address women’s rights issues. One of recent legislations that the government passed relating to women’s protection was that of the law against human trafficking.

-- Bahrain Tribune