In a first for the Kingdom, two Bahraini women have been appointed to serve as director general for two of the country’s senior administrative positions. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a Royal Decree appointing Shawqiya Ibrahim Humaidan and Lamia Yousef Al-Fadhala to the positions of director general of the Capital Secretariat and the Northern Municipality respectively. It is the first time ever for women to hold these coveted positions.
The current participation of Bahraini women in leadership and executive authority positions stands at 40 per cent. Moreover, the proportion of women in the legislative authority is 15 per cent. There is also a strong female presence in the judicial authority, the public prosecution and in diplomatic positions.
The Supreme Council for Women in the Kingdom of Bahrain, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, has dedicated this year’s Bahraini Women’s Day to celebrate the contributions of Bahraini women in the legislative and municipal fields. The objective is to highlight the obstacles and opportunities presented to women in these unconventional fields of work. It also coincides with almost 100 years of the establishment of the first municipal structure in Bahrain which has allowed the participation of Bahraini women since the 1930s.
