WOMEN make up more than half the lawyers in Bahrain and more than a third of employees in the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry, it has emerged.
The figures were released yesterday at the opening of the Third National Conference for Bahraini Women, which was held under the theme Bahraini Women in the Legal and Judicial Field.
The three-day conference is being held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women (SCW) president.
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Speakers presented papers on various topics during yesterday’s sessions, including the much-awaited second Family Law that aims to benefit Shi’ite Bahrainis.
“Women in justice and law have surpassed (expectations) and earned their place based on merit,” said Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa during the opening ceremony.
“Most lawyers today are women and a woman heads the Bahrain Bar Association.
“Women are under-secretaries, consultants, lawyers, judges and clerks in courts.
“In the ministry, we have 35 per cent female employees in a variety of positions.”
Also speaking at the opening ceremony was SCW secretary general Hala Al Ansari, who said it was important for women to take part in the judicial process.
“The importance of women in law comes from her right to equality and to compete from the side of the law,” she said.
“Women now make up 47pc of legislative and law positions and they make up 55pc of lawyers.”
Women in the Sunni community have benefited from the Family Law since 2009, but Bahrain’s opposition groups – led by the now-dissolved Al Wefaq National Islamic Society – vetoed a version for the Shi’ite community based on objections from religious leaders.
The law, proposed by the government and originally intended to cover both sects, set in stone appropriate court judgements for divorce, child custody or inheritance cases, as well as other domestic disputes.
In the absence of a Family Law for the Shi’ite community, Sharia (Islamic) Court judges issue judgments based on their own interpretation of Islam – which often favours men.
High Sharia Court judge Shaikh Hamad Al Dossary said since the law was enacted more lawyers were open to taking part in
court procedures.
“In the past there were a lot of lawyers who didn’t want to be in Sharia Court because (the rulings) were based on a judge and they hadn’t studied Sharia law themselves,” he said.
“Now we have lawyers who want to come into our courts because they have a law that is clear on which they can lean on.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh who was present at the opening ceremony spoke of the importance of such conferences in shedding light on the challenges and success faced by Bahraini women.
“(Women in this field) encounter struggles from society itself, but we can say that we’ve surpassed a lot of these obstacles and women are now accepted in society as lawyers, judges and in all fields,” she said.
“We need to show this true picture of Bahrain and figure out what struggles we face and how all organisations can play a part in dismantling them, whether it’s government or private.”
The conference will continue until tomorrow at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa.
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