BAHRAIN will host a special session for differently abled people in the kingdom to ensure they have a place at the centre of parliamentary dialogue and decision-making.
It will be chaired by National Assembly and Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam and will include the participation of government representatives.
The move, organisers say, reflects Bahrain’s commitment to empowering people with disabilities and integrating them fully into the country’s legislative and oversight processes.
The announcement came following a consultative meeting yesterday organised by Parliament’s services committee, where several representatives of associations dedicated to people with disabilities presented their views, challenges and aspirations alongside acclaimed athletes and determined activists.
Services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh praised the participants’ input, describing the meeting as ‘a turning point in how the legislative authority engages with people with disabilities’.
“The ideas shared today were deeply realistic and immensely valuable,” Mr Al Saleh said. “We now have a clear set of priorities and recommendations that will be formally submitted to the relevant authorities as we prepare for upcoming parliamentary events.”
Mr Al Saleh stressed that the committee is committed to ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities are not symbolic but genuinely embedded within policy planning and development.
“This initiative is not a formality,” he added. “It is a serious legislative commitment to guarantee that people with disabilities participate in shaping public policies that affect their lives. Their perspectives are essential – not optional – in building a more inclusive Bahrain.”
Mr Al Saleh announced that the People with Disabilities Parliament session will be convened soon, under the leadership of Mr Al Musallam.
Representatives from the government will attend, providing a direct platform for dialogue between policymakers and disability advocates.
He added that the initiative formed part of a broader national direction towards inclusion, empowerment and rights-based policymaking.
“We’re proud that Bahrain is taking this bold step,” he said. “It reinforces the country’s dedication to treating people with disabilities as active partners in the legislative and oversight process,” he said. “This aligns fully with the kingdom’s approach to supporting this vital segment of society.”
Mr Al Saleh said the People with Disabilities Parliament is expected to provide an authentic, structured parliamentary environment where participants can articulate their concerns, propose solutions and engage directly with legislators and officials, adding: “The initiative stands as a testament to the kingdom’s leadership in championing inclusivity and reinforcing the role of people with disabilities as essential contributors to national development.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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