WOMEN-ONLY days could be introduced in all public parks and gardens across Bahrain in a bid to tackle ogling issues and provide comfort zones for the fairer sex trying to get fit.
The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry informed municipal authorities that they were studying proposals to introduce informal special days for women in select locations.
However, ministry officials have told municipal authorities in Bahrain’s four governorates that a flexible system was necessary to avoid depriving the general public of much needed space to breathe fresh air and exercise.
Ogling
It follows four years of experimenting with two days allocated exclusively for women in the Khalifa Bin Salman Grand Park in Riffa.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Bader Al Tamimi said most visitors to parks and gardens were women, which means having women-only days is a step to ensure they are not continually bothered by ogling men.
“Of course we don’t want all parks to turn women-only as everyone should have access to public facilities without discrimination,” he said.
“There has to be a proper assessment in accordance with visitation percentages between men and women, even if it is clear that women are dominant, to determine the select places.
“The plan to feature women-only days in public parks and gardens shouldn’t see all men banned from entry.
“We are still waiting for ideas to ensure a flexible mechanism for the move but at least it will stop women feeling uncomfortable at being ogled at by card-playing men sitting on the sidelines or wherever they may be sitting, standing or hiding.”
However, the move has not received universal approval.
Council services and public utilities and committee chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said the whole idea needed to be scrapped. “Public places should be accessible to all and without anyone being stopped from exercising their constitutional rights at any time.
“Take for an example, a couple who may only have a chance to get out together on a Monday. The husband would be prohibited entry from the park nearby their home just because it is women’s-only day.
“Another example, is a mother who wants to go out with her teenage sons and would find her children turned away. The same would apply to a girl who couldn’t go to the park with her brothers!”
“Women will come in sportswear and park their car outside so they will be spotted any way, which means the idea of staring may happen outside the park grounds.”
He believed that should the move be given the go-ahead then men-only days should be introduced to make it fair to both genders.
“Bahraini men in general are respectable and I do not believe there are numerous cases of women being bothered by them,” he added.
“There may be the occasional rare incident but that should not result in a mass punishment handed out to all men.
“If it is a segregation issue then men-only days should also happen.”
Southern Municipality director general Assem Abdullatif said in June that constitutionally, everyone has the right to use municipal spaces.
He also suggested building higher walls in municipal spaces to make women feel more comfortable.
Capital Trustees Board vice-chairwoman Aziza Kamal believes the plan could be well organised and executed in a proper and fair manner and the move is also being welcomed by men.
“Some husbands or fathers don’t want their wives or daughters watched or approached by men while practising light sport, jogging or exercising,” she added.
“The women-only day gives more females the chance to come to public facilities across the country.
“The women-only days across the country could be staged on a rota, announced on the ministry’s website, to ensure people know where to go and when.
“Parks within the same area could be open to all so no-one suffers or feels left out. We just want to ensure the new system serves people in a proper way.”
She added that during women-only days the park’s security staff and cleaners should be female-only too.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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