| Type of parliamentary body |
Specialized |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Majlis Al-Shura
|
| Date of creation |
19 October 2007 |
| Last renewal date |
N/A |
| Mandate |
The Committee has the following objectives:
- To ensure that all standing local laws related to women and children are in accordance with the ratified international conventions;
- To review and study all draft laws related to women and children proposed by the Government or Shura members and submit its report to the Council;
- Provide reports / opinions to other standing committees in the Council on all articles related to women and children in all draft laws under discussion in those committees;
- Follow up on all recommendations and resolutions related to women and children in all draft laws under discussion in those committees.
Follow up on all recommendations and resolutions related to women and children adopted by the Council or issued by regional and global parliamentary conferences.
|
| Membership |
At the start of each annual session, Shura members apply for membership to the committee by filling a special form (membership is restricted to 7 only). The Executive Board of the Council, in consultation with applicants agrees on the final appointment. The members elect their chairperson and the deputy chairperson.
Composition by sex: 3 men (43%), 4 women (57%)
|
| Working methods |
The items submitted to the Committee are selected as follow:
- The Council refers all draft laws proposed by the Government or Shura members related to women and children to the Committee to discuss in detail and present its report to the Council in a specified period. The Committee invites all Government officials concerned with the topic as well as members of the civil societies and other specialized and interested groups. The Committee then presents its final report to the Council with its recommendations and amendments as well as its justifications;
- The Committee also reviews and studies standing laws related to women and children and propose amendments or initiates new legislations;
- Committee members study certain programs related to women and children and invite ministries / organizations/ societies concerned for detailed information and agree on certain changes / additions etc.
- Press conferences are held with the media for public advocacy purposes on certain issues;
- Members of the Committee appear regularly on TV and Radio programs to give information or answer questions about issues related to women and children;
- Meetings and exchange visits take place between Committee members and other parliaments;
- Members participate actively in local, regional and international workshops, conferences and symposiums.
Functioning:
The Committee has a secretary to follow on matters and laws. The Shura Council provides a budget for the Committee, as it does for permanent committee.
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
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| Relations with external bodies |
- Presently the Committee has good relations and exchange visits with the following parliaments. The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, The Sultanate of Oman, France, the UK, the Philippines and Thailand. We hope to extend that to other countries;
- The Committee has contacts and programs with the following agencies: UNDP, UNICEF, NDI, and the International Human Rights Committee;
- The Committee also has relations with the following entities: the Supreme Council for Women, the Political Development Council, all Women and Children Societies, all Government Ministries, organizations in the public and private sectors;
The Committee is committed to informing the public and media about their laws under discussion with all society groups, the executive authority and political groups.
Committee members are engaging in many activities, participating in numerous forums and collaborating with various institutions on matters related to women.
|
| Subjects dealt with |
The committee is currently reviewing and discussing following laws: Social Insurance, Retirements Benefits, as well as the Rights of Child. We also reviewing the Convention on the Elimination of al forms of Discrimination against Women especially the articles that the Kingdom of Bahrain did not improve.
Local laws review:
1.The Criminal Procedures law
2.The Financial Law
3.The Social Insurance Law
4.The Law for Alimony Fund
5.The Law related to civil crimes
6.The Public Health Law
7.The Education Law
|
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Committee for Women and Children
Bahrain Shura Council
P.O. Box 2991
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
|
| Phone |
(+973) 17748888
|
| Fax |
(+973) 17714583 |
|
|
| Website |
http://www.shura.bh/en/Council/Committees/Pages/WomanChild.aspx
|
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|
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. Rabab A.Nabi Salem Al-Orayed |
| Notes |
Chairperson |
|
SECRETARY
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