BAHRAIN WOMEN'S SOCIETY - SUPPORTING WOMEN AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 001115 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD AND ECA/PE/V/G/N CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PHUM KMPI OEXC BA SUBJECT: BAHRAIN WOMEN'S SOCIETY - SUPPORTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT BAHRAINI SOCIETY REF: A. MANAMA 799 ¶B. MANAMA 312 ¶1. SUMMARY. The Bahrain Women's Society (BWS) has emerged as a leader among Bahrain's NGOs. Through its highly successful outreach programs BWS enables women to assume leading roles in society, and increase social awareness of issues relating to children, education and the environment. This group of Shi'a women has developed a strategic plan to contribute to improving social development. These agents of change are open to new ideas and welcome any initiatives that implement democratic reform. On March 3 BWS leaders Drs. Wajeeha Al Baharna and Soroor Qarooni met with U/S Grossman (see ref b). END SUMMARY. -------------- BAHRAIN WOMEN'S SOCIETY -------------- ¶2. In 2001, Dr. Wajeeha Sadiq Al Baharna established BWS and developed a strategic plan to touch different factions of society with unique and qualitative programs. In three short years, the BWS has left a clear mark on Bahraini society, especially for women. BWS's main goals are to enable women to assume a leading role in society, to achieve social justice, increase social awareness of issues relating to child abuse and neglect, consolidate a sense of environmental citizenship in individuals and society as a whole, and contribute to the drafting and improvement of laws relating to social development. PD has close contact with BWS since its inception. BWS welcomes financial support/grants from Embassy Manama. BWS funded two board members to take English at ACEC to increase their level of fluency to engage in international conferences. -------------- -------------- SUPPORTING ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN - BE FREE PROJECT -------------- -------------- ¶3. Dr. Al Baharna told PolOff on March 13 that the society has made children a top priority. Its &Be Free8 project focuses on protecting children from abuse and neglect. Project Director Dr. Soroor Qarooni solicited the Crown Prince,s wife Shaikha Hala bint Duaij Al Khalifa's involvement to launch the project on March 19, 2002. The project is divided into three phases. The first stage focuses on educating the child by identifying at-risk populations, building awareness about dangerous locales, teaching them how to identify suspects and what to do if someone attempts to abuse them. The second stage involves teaching children basic daily practices to strengthen their character and increase their self-esteem. The final stage is provision of continual support to victims by studying child legislation in the Kingdom and inaugurating the first of its kind in the Middle East - a &Be Free8 center. In conjunction with the program's final phase, the Society established a hotline to field domestic abuse calls. In December 2003, Post provided a small PD grant for NGO development of BWS board members and volunteers. -------------- -------------- EMPOWERING WOMEN - BWS WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT PROJECT -------------- -------------- ¶4. Dr. Baharna told PolFSN on April 16 that empowering women is a necessity of modern societies. Al Baharna briefed PolFSN on BWS Women's Advancement Project that attempts to develop, employ, and invest in human capacity because women constitute 50 percent of Bahraini society. Project Director Ibtisam Zaid launched the project in July 2003, laying down the goals of developing women,s self-esteem and increasing educational qualifications, awareness of women,s issues, legal awareness with respect to women's social role, awareness of the concept of gender roles. ¶5. BWS achieved its projects goals by holding seminars and conferences, disseminating a new culture for women through the society's publications and local press, cooperating with local governmental and non-governmental institutions to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, and participating in local radio and television shows which address women,s issues. -------------- -------------- EDUCATIONAL REFORM - ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM -------------- -------------- ¶6. Al Baharna told EmbOffs on April 11 that previously she considered educational reform an impossible task, citing that the Ministry of Education does not have a mechanism for parental, teacher or concerned citizen input to the curriculum. With rising unemployment and recognition that children are not learning the skills needed to compete in a future job market, BWS decided to take action and develop the Environmental Citizenship program. Project Director Saba Al Asfoor developed an after-school activities program from children to learn more about the environment and science. By taking an "after-school" approach, the Ministry of Education did not object. The program was met with rave reviews from the teachers, children and parents. BWS was unable to keep up with demand. Dr. Baharna reported that now the Ministry of Education has invited BWS to partake in ministerial meetings on its science curriculum for the upcoming year. Lending to its credibility, BWS now sits on Bahrain's National Environmental Commission. -------------- -------------- EMPOWERING DISABLED CHILDREN - WHITE HAND PROJECT -------------- -------------- ¶7. With the approval of the former Minister of Health Dr. Faisal Al Mousawi, Project Director Feryal Al Sairafi established the "White Hand" project in September 2002. Not only does the project provide academic instruction to children who suffer from debilitating diseases and are usually confined to their beds, but it helps discover and enhance a child's other talents so they can remain active. BWS implemented this project in the pediatric wards of Bahrain's hospitals. US Fulbright scholars have volunteered with White Hand. -------------- INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM PARTICIPATION -------------- ¶8. Since 2002 Post nominated four BWS members to participate in the International Visitors Program (IVP). In June 2002 Dr. Baharna went on the Global Environmental Issues IVP. In February 2003 Dr. Qarooni participated in the IVP on Promoting Effective NGO Leadership for Women. Both women have told PolOff that the opportunity to meet their counterparts and experience America first-hand was priceless. Both came home to Bahrain inspired to delve into issues that appeared daunting in the past. Saba Al Asfoor and Nadia Al Alawi went on leadership programs. All board members have told PAO and EmbOffs that they rely on IVP contacts for advice, support and exchange of new ideas. Dr. Al Baharna now reaches out to international organizations without hesitation. Her experience has benefitted BWS greatly. ¶9. During a May 12 meeting with EmbOFFS, Dr. Al Baharna, expressed her desire to strengthen cooperation between the BWS and other women,s societies in the Kingdom. She also encouraged governmental agencies to embark on this drive that is in keeping with the King,s reform process and will help establish a modern and democratic society. At the May 12 meeting EmbOffs introduced Drs. Al Baharna and Qarooni to President of the Textile Union, Kadija Attiya. They offered Attiya BWS' support in her campaign to save garment industry jobs that are held by conservative Shi'a women (see ref a). Dr. Baharna told PolOff on June 8 that she is planning to present this issue to the Bahrain Women's Federation so she can involve as many women organizations as possible to help Attiya. ¶10. COMMENT: The Bahrain Women's Society's membership totals approximately 50-65 women who genuinely care to improve the conditions of Bahraini women and children. Although the leadership dresses conservatively and wear hijabs (head scarves) they are agents of change - extremely open to new ideas and welcome any initiatives that would implement real democratic reforms in Bahrain. On March 2003, Drs. Al Baharna and Qarooni met with U/S Grossman to make clear that even though human rights conditions have greatly improved, the GOB still needs to improve its record on discrimination, poverty and education and start taking NGOs seriously. (see ref b) Bahrain is fortunate to have the BWS. -------------- BWS Board -------------- President, Dr. Wajeeha Sadiq Baharna Vice President, Nadia Al Alawi Board Secretary, Mina Khadhmi Treasurer, Rana Al Sairafi Be Free Project, Dr. Soroor Qarooni Environmental Citizen Project, Saba Al Asfoor White Hand Project, Feryal Al Sairafi Women's Advancement Project, Ibtisam Zaid Media & Public Relations, A,dham Abbas Board Member, Shereen Asiri Board Member, Fadheela Hammad Board Member, Najeeba Sayed Sharaf -------------- BWS INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATIONS -------------- BWS is an active member of several international bodies including: The Arab Network of Nongovernmental Organizations, Cairo Arab Network for Adult Learning and Eradicating Illiteracy, Cairo The Arab Environment and Development Network, Cairo Earth Day Network, New York Arab Bureau for Guidance with No Limits, Amman World Association of Non-governmental Organizations, Washington DC WILLIAMSON