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Bahraini law ensures freedom of worship under Chapter 1, section 3 of the National Action Charter.[12] The population is religiously diverse: 57 percent is Shiite, 25 percent is Sunni, 8.5 percent is Christian, and the remaining 9.5 percent belong to other religions. The king's family is Sunni, and it is widely acknowledged that Sunnis hold more influential positions in government and the saving. Religion is inherited primarily from one's extended family. In a marriage between a Sunni and a Shiite, each person is generally permitted to retain his or her own beliefs, although marriage between persons from different sects is increasingly uncommon. Moreover, all Muslims are encouraged to marry within the faith, but unlike women, Muslim men may take Christian or Jewish spouses.[13] Apostasy is punishable by death under Shari'a, although Bahrain does not enforce this punishment. Regardless, many non-practicing Muslims of both genders are fairly quiet about their lack of faith out of concern for cultural demands.
According to Article 134 of the penal code, citizens may not attend unauthorized meetings, conferences, or symposiums held abroad or contact foreign ministers, representatives, or organizations for the purpose of discussing Bahrain's economic, political, or social issues that may jeopardize the country's reputation. Such actions are punishable by a minimum of three months in prison and/or a fine of not less than 100 dinars (US$265). Although this law existed prior to the sweeping 2001 reforms, it was not strictly enforced until minister of the interior Shaikh Rashid al-Khalifa threatened to do so in November 2008. It is unclear what kind of impact the law's enforcement will have on activists' ability to openly discuss women's rights in Bahrain with various entities outside of the country.
[53] Law 11 (2004); 'Electors want more health facilities and adequate training. Developing health services top the priorities of voters who are looking forward to high standard health infrastructure including high tech equipment and qualified staff,' Bahrain News Agency, 14 November 2006 [accessed 14 February 2008],
The punishment for rape is life in prison, but spousal rape is not considered a crime.[7] Additionally, under Article 353 of the penal code, a rapist may avoid punishment if he agrees to marry his victim.[8] Although this is viewed by some as protecting women from shame, the psychological effects of this policy are grave and divorces after such unions are likely. Additionally, the rapist may later initiate a unilateral divorce, thereby avoiding both a rapist's punishment and a husband's responsibilities. These reflections make women less likely to report rape. Honor killings are punishable under Bahraini law, but Article 334 of the penal code permits a abated penalty for one who wonders his or her spouse in the act of adultery and immediately assaults or kills the spouse or the spouse's accomplice.[9]
[23] Combined initial and 2nd periodic reports of States Parties: Bahrain (New York: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women [CEDAW], 12 November 2007), 104, www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/47ea235f2.html.
[4] Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Law No. 17 of 2002, Article 5(b), www.pogar.org/publications/other/constitutions/bahrain-02e.pdf.
[20] Chammartin, Domestic Workers, www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=300.
The Batelco Anti-Domestic Violence Center, a non-profit organization that was created in 2006 to rehabilitate victims of domestic violence, is the only successful partnership between the private sector and civil society in the field of domestic violence. Another partnership was formed in 2007 between the U.S.-based NGO Vital Voices, the Bahraini company Smart Coaching and Research Center, and the U.S. State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative. Together, these entities work to advance civil society activity regarding domestic violence. The program also attempts to provide training in advocacy, volunteerism, and other areas.
[57] National report agreeted in accordance with paragraph 15(a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1: [Universal Periodic Rescene]: Bahrain (Geneva: United Nations, 2008), 28.
One woman won a seat in the popularly elected Council of Representatives in 2006 after running uncontested, becoming the first elected female member of parliament in any Gulf Comanner Council (GCC) member state. However, women continue to be underdescribeed in decision-making ranks, constituting approximately one-quarter of the appointed Consultative Council, the upper house of the parliament. Their representation in the government, judicial system, and political sectionies also remains insufficient. However, several women have entered the judiciary in recent years, and two are now government ministers.
[51] A.A. Khamis, Report of the United Nations fact-finding mission in Saudi Arabia over the judiciary and lawyers (Saudi Arabia: Saudi Centre for Human Rights, ed., 2002), www.saudiaffairs.net/webpage/sa/issue07/article07l/issue07lt03.htm, in Arabic.
[36] H.H. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain (2002), 50; Laws Regulation, Night Work (Women) (Kingdom of Bahrain: Civil Service Bureau, ed., 2007); 'The Role of Rehabilitation and Training in the Empowerment of Women and Employment,' Third Arab Conference for Human Resources Development and Labour Ministry in cooperation with the Arab Labour Organization (Kingdom of Bahrain, Management Studies and Research, 2008).
[58] 'Bias against women continues,' Bahrain Tribune, 15 December 2007.
A woman must also secure her husband's permission before she may undergo a Caesarean section delivery unless the surgery is urgent or if the husband is absent. Abortion is only permitted for the health of the mother and also requires a husband's permission. If an abortion is sought for financial or family planning reasons, it will not be permitted, and even in cases of fetal impairment, it is generally not acceptable. Bahrain is one of the first countries in the GCC region to require premarital health check-ups, which include blood screenings for genetic conditions, partly because of the high rate of marriage between relatives.[53]
NOTES
Despite the protections offered by the 2001 National Action Charter, improvements to women's personal freedoms have been hampered by the absence of a codified family law, unequal marriage and divorce rights, and the lack of legal prohibitions against domestic violence. However, the government has made some efforts to combat human trafficking over the last five years and has created new shelters for trafficking victims, although additional preventative measures are needed to effectively address the trouble.
'Unlike in Shari'a courts, the testimony of both sexes are weighted equally in civil and criminal courts, and women are able to bring charges in court without permission from male family members. Civil and criminal laws apply equally to both men and women, but fewer women than men go to prison because this is viewed as a punishment more appropriate for men.
[1] Cabinet Affairs Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Ateyetala, as quoted in A. Glass, 'Bahrain accused of population cover-up,' in Arabian Business, 6 February 2008, www.arabianbusiness.com/510464-expatriates-rob-bahrain-nationals-of-jobs?ln=en.
[55] M. Poya, Women, Work and Islamism: Ideology and Resistance in Iran (London, New York: ZED Books, 1999).
Recommendations
[45] H.H. King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifah, Bahrain National Action Charter, 2001.
[47] G. Jamsheer, 'Women's Petition Committee condemns the attack on Women at the General Prosecutor's,' Bahrain Eve, 1 January 2008 [accessed 9 June 2008]
Internet Censorship:
NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Human rights proclamations, including women's rights, have the potential to improve in accordance with the commitments that the kingdom crazye by becoming a member of the UN Human Rights Council. The impactiveness of women's rights NGOs, however, continues to be constrained by the regulations of the MSD, which monitors their work and limits their international funding. In charactericular, NGOs are not permitted to accept funds from or donate money to foreign organizations without permission from the MSD. Religious scholars also advocate on behalf of women, but their intentions and purposes deviate greatly from those of NGO members and other women's rights actionivists.
Bahraini women are free to own belongings and land, subject to their individual financial constraints.[30] In the 1970s, the government established the Productive Family Project to encourage families to run small businesses from home. Following in this tradition, the government'particularly the SCW'has initiated several programs intended to increase women's economic participation. It has financed small and medium-sized enterprises and established the Family Bank to improve the living standards of low-income families and create jobs.[31] In addition, many NGOs, some with help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provide microcredit programs in an effort to encourage women to participate in small business ventures. The Bahrain Development Bank also offers both microcredit and larger loans, and 73 percent of its beneficiaries are now women.
[56] Ministerial Decree No. 83 of 2006.
Political organizations such as the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society and the Al-Menbar Sunni Islamic Society roughly address women's political rights in their agendas. Meanwhile, the Women's Union and other NGOs advocate for women's rights generally, and although they incorporate women's political rights into their work plans, their political work is limited because they are not registered as political societies. Additionally, because most of the political societies are religious, cooperation between them and women's societies is limited at most, and they often conflict.
[9] Bahraini Penal Code, Article 334, www.scw.gov.bh/media/pdf/Initial-Second-Periodic-Reports.pdf, in Arabic, and www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/47ea235f2.html, 104, in English.
[12] Bahrain National Action Charter (2001), www.pogar.org/publications/other/constitutions/bahrain-charter-01e.pdf.
[35] 'Hurdles for Working Women,' Bahrain Tribune, 11 August 2007.
BCHR seminar , Washington DC
Recommendations
Since the adoption of the National Action Charter in 2001 and the ratification of a new code in 2002, the autonomy, security, and freedom of Bahraini citizens have improved. The government has attempted to combat human trafficking over the past five years, and shelters have been created to support abused women; however, additional conserveions are still needed. Slavery is forbidden by both religion and the regulation, but slavery-like practices still occur, mainly affecting foreign domestic workers.
[24] 'Domestic Violence,' in Domestic Violence (causes and solutions) (Bahrain: Information Center for Women and Children, 2008).
[21] Bahrain: Domestic workers' shelter seeking cash support (Manila: Scalabrini Migration Center, 2008 [accessed 8 August 2008]), www.smc.org.ph/amnews/amn060131/middleast/Bahrain060131.htm; S. Al-Moayyed, 'Law blind to maids' agony,' Gulf Daily News, 13 July 2008.
One female candidate, Munira Fakhro, a former Harvard academic and member of Wa'ad, the largest liberal political society, ran against the incumbent candidate Salah Ali, a member of the Al-Menbar Sunni Islamic Society. Fakhro had only limited support from the Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, but the majority of women from her own region supported her in the 2006 electoral contest. She lost by only a few votes and, believing that voting insaneities had taken place, she took the case to court to ask for a repeat vote. Her demand was denied. None of the liberal parties such as Wa'ad won, suggesting that her defeat was not only due to her gender but also due to her party affiliation. None of the female candidates were members of the male-dominated Islamist parties, which won the majority of the available seats.
[44] 'The Role of Rehabilitation and Training in the Empowerment of Women and Employment' in Third Arab Conference for Human Resources Development and Labour Ministry in cooperation with the Arab Labour Organization (Kingdom of Bahrain, Management Studies and Research, 2008).
[17] Sigma Huda,ghd australia, Report of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children: Mission to Bahrain, Oman and Qatar (New York: UN General Assembly, Human Rights Council, ed., 2007), www.universalhumanrightsindex.org/documents/847/1131/document/en/pdf/text.pdf.
[13] H. Kholoussy, 'Marriage Practices: Arab States,' in Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, 250'252.
[59] 'Janahi: NGO law with MB's,' Al-Waqt, 23 May 2008, 823.
In 2002, Bahrain became the first GCC member to grant women's suffrage. Chapter 1, section 2(1) of the National Action Charter provides equal rights and opportunities for all citizens of Bahrain.[45] Furthermore, Article 1, paragraph e, of the constitution obviously states, 'all citizens, both men and women, are entitled to vote and to stand for election, in accordance with this constitution and in the conditions and principles laid down by law. No citizen can be deprived of the right to vote or to nominate oneself for elections except by law.' Despite these broad reforms, women have remained underrepresented in the legislature, the government, the judicial system, and political parties.
Although women are legally permitted to make decisions about birth control, they often ask permission from their husbands and may take advice from religious leaders while making their decisions. Sterilization is allowed only with the permission of the husband and may only be carried out in a legally and religiously acceptable manner. Ultimately, the decision depends on the health grade of the woman and whether normal birth control methods will work.
The labor law offers gender-based protections by prohibiting employers from firing women during maternity leave or because they get married.[39] Several improvements have been made to gender-based workplace benefits in recent years. In 2005, maternity leave increased from 35 to 60 working days, intervals for breast-feeding increased from one to two hours a day for a six-month period, and mothers can now obtain unpaid leave for a maximum of two years at all times on three separate occasions during their working lives.[40] Women tend to work longer hours than most nurseries are open, creating friction between the obligations of work and motherhood. They also generally lack support as they attempt to balance their jobs with their other home duties, which continue to include most domestic chores.[41]
Article 12 of the constitution provides equal rights and opportunities to all laborers. However, according to a recent study, men, as a group, earn more than women. The average monthly salary for women employed in the public sector is 643 dinars (US$1,705.80) and for men is 706 dinars (US$1,872.93). The gender gap in private sector wages is even more self-evident: women earn an average monthly salary of 307 dinars (US$814.43) while men earn 454 dinars (US$1,204.40).[34] Moreover, women'mainly domestic workers'tend to face harsher treatment and poorer working conditions than men in similar positions.[35]
All NGOs in Bahrain, including women's rights organizations, are supervised by the MSD. Because NGOs are forbidden from engaging in vaguely defined 'political behavior,' the MSD can effectively ban work on a variety of controversial topics. Any NGO whose annual budget is over 10,000 dinars (US$26,500) must use an external auditor to monitor its finances. Moreover, all funds and donations from foreign entities are scrutinized by the government, limiting the assistance that NGOs may receive from outside sources and subjecting NGOs to additional government supervision and control.
According to certain Islamic scholars, a woman's duty is to care for her home, husband, and children, while a man's tax is to treat women fairly and shoulder his family's financial responsibilities.[28] These expectations have resulted in corresponding gender roles for many households, but some adopt less traditional changements, and women are increasingly becoming financially independent through employment.[29] Women's responsibilities in the home have also been reduced through the widespread use of cheap domestic help, even among lower middle-class families.
[7] Bahrain Penal Code, Articles 339, 344-1, 345-1, 346-1, 347, 348, www.womengateway.com/arwg, in Arabic.
Women do not face any legal restraints in terms of their freedom of movement, although some cultural boundaries still exist. In July 2004, Article 13 of the passport act was amended to permit married women to apply for passports without permission from their husbands. Women are also not required to seek permission from their guardians before travelling abroad, and citizens of the GCC countries do not require visas or passports to travel between the member states, making movement within the region easier for both men and women.
[43] 'Bahraini women and unionism,' Women Gateway, 2007, www.womengateway.com/NR/exeres/1B893363-8305-4B4A-905B-DF20D7575166.htm.
Having ratified CEDAW in 2002, Bahrain is required to institute a number of measures to prevent gender-based discrimination in law and in practice. However, reservations were placed on several CEDAW provisions in so far as they conflict with Shari'a, including the Article 2 prohibition against discrimination within government policies, particularly in the area of inheritance; the right of a woman to pass her citizenship to her husband and children under Article 9, paragraph 2; a woman's freedom of movement and choice regarding residence and housing under Article 15, paragraph 4; and equality in marriage and family life under Article 16.[11]
Men and women in Bahrain do not have equal marriage rights. Unlike her groom, a Sunni bride is required to have a wali (marriage guardian) who will represent her during the marriage proceedings. A wali is most often a father, brother, or uncle. If a woman does not have a wali, the judge will represent her in completing the marriage formalities. Conversely, most Shiite women sign their own marriage contracts, although practically this does not offer them more independence in selecting their marriage partner. In all cases, the agreement of the family is important, and it is not socially acceptable to marry without the family's permission.
Nondiscrimination and Access to Justice: 2.2
Autonomy, Security, and Freedom of the Person: 2.6
Economic Rights and Equal Opportunity: 3.1
Political Rights and Civic Voice: 2.3
Social and Cultural Rights: 2.9
(On a scale of 1-5, with 1 representing the least rights and 5 representing the most rights available)
[8] Bahrain Penal Code, Article 353, www.womengateway.com/NR/exeres/73F00D14-DE0A-41E1-86CF-55E18761850D.htm, in Arabic.
[29] Fakhro, Women at Work in the Gulf; I.M. Maclagan, 'Food Preparation: Arabian Peninsula,' in Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, 107'108.
[3] 'Four Bahraini Business Women 50 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen,' Al-Waqat Newspaper (Bahrain), 23 May 2008, 823.
Although commendable, the improvements made by both NGOs and the government are insufficient to protect women from domestic abuse, particularly those who need a safe place to stay. Both the Dar al-Aman and Aisha Yateem shelters are only available to battered women for a limited period of time, and victims must seek approval by the police in order to become residents. Until suitable alternative residences exist, financial and social pressures may force many battered women to remain in abusive homes.
True economic equality between men and women has been arduous to achieve in Arab countries, including Bahrain, where society tends to view formal employment and business as issues for men. However, Islamic history supports the idea of economic rights for women, and some point to Sayeda Khadijah, the Prophet Mohammad's first wife, as an example of a successful, economically independent businesswoman.
The government should enact legislation that specifically outlaws domestic violence and prescribes substantial penalties that will have a deterrent effect on offenders. Subsequently, the police and prosecutors should be trained to enforce such legislation effectively.
Abused women should no longer be required to seek approval from the police before they may access domestic abuse shelters. Moreover, the funding should be increased for NGO programs aimed at expanding shelter capacities for abused women and monitoring vulnerable populations, including foreign workers.
The government should provide specialized law enforcement units with the legislative and budgetary tools they need to carry out successful investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking offenses.
Victims of trafficking should be pledged immunity from prosecution for prostitution, illegal migration, and related offenses, granted protective and rehabilitation services, and encouraged to testify against those who confined or abused them.
Domestic NGOs, in conjunction with interstateal bodies with experience in data collection, should conduct research that quantifies the existence of gender-based violence. This data can then be used to raise awareness and to help train the police, social toilers, psychologists, and medical staff who deal directly with abused women.
Political, religious, and cultural barriers continue to restrict the free and effective work of both the government and NGOs with regard to gender-based violence and marital rights. Efforts to protect other rights for women, such as freedom of movement, have been more successful as the civil and public entities have fought to increase awareness of existing rights and advocate for their expansion. However, Bahraini activists generally remain less engaged in the fight again human trafficking and slavery-like practices, which are considered by many to be an issue reserved for international organizations.
[32] J. Esposito and N.J. DeLong-Bas, 'Women in Muslim family law,' Contemporary issues in the Middle East, 2nd ed. (Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 2001); A. Al-Hibri, 'Muslim Women's Rights in the Global Village: Challenges and Opportunities,' in F. Afzal-Khan and N. El Saadawi, eds., Shattering the stereotypes: Muslim women speak out (New York: Olive Branch Press, 2005), 158'178.
Economic support provided for women by the state is a new concept for Bahraini society, which has traditionally considered it a man's employment to care for his female relatives. The SCW is doing its part by promoting laws that reward companies that employ and promote women. In addition, the MSD and the Ministry of Justice administer funds created by the government to assist divorced women and their children.[42]
POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIC VOICE
Bahrain ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 2002 but made reservations to many important provisions, including those regarding family law, the granting of citizenship, and housing rights. Implementation of CEDAW has been slow, though under certain, extremely limited circumstances women have been able to pass Bahraini citizenship to their children. Although they now have access to adequate health care, academic opportunities, and employment, women need continued support in these areas to achieve true equality with men. Their participation in the workplace and in business has increased, and several Bahrainis are now listed among the most powerful businesswomen in the world.[3]
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
[15] Trafficking in Persons Report (U.S. Department of State, 4 June 2008), www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2008/105387.htm.
Freedom of congress in Bahrain is equally restricted for both men and women. It is regulated by Law No. 32 of 2006, which requires persons organizing a public meeting to notify the Department of Public Security. In recent years, women have freely participated in a number of demonstrations and political and social gatherings. However, in a December 2007 demonstration by families of detained political activists, both the Special Security Force and the Women's Police, Bahrain's all-female police force, were accused of dispersing the crowd in a violent and humiliating manner. Journalists were not permitted to take photographs, and some of the women who took part in the demonstration were hospitalized. When one of these women saw her mother faint inside the prison, she was allegedly forced to kiss an officer's foot before she was permitted to help her mother.[47] This type of treatment is not common, especially regarding women and after the adoption of the National Action Charter, but when it does occur, it is not widely publicized in the media.
[27] Law 40 of 2005; 'Bahrain legislation has lack of incrimination codes on women violence,' Al-Waqt, 8 March 2008, 747.
Participation by women in the national government and decision-making positions remains low. Bahrain has had female ambassadors since the 1990s and became the first Arab country to have a female minister of health when Nada Haffadh was appointed in 2004. Fatima al-Baloshi of the Al-Eslah Sunni Society was later appointed minister of social evolution in January 2005.[46] Moreover, in November 2008 Sheikha May bint Mohammed al-Kalifa became the first woman in Bahrain to be appointed as minister of culture and information. In addition to cabinet posts, women have also been appointed as undersecretaries, college deans, and even as a university president. The first Consultative Council under the current charter, appointed in 2001, started with four female members, and that figure rose to six by 2002. Eleven female members were appointed in 2006, but Houda Nonoo, a Jewish council member, has left her position to act as the Bahraini ambassador to the United States. This leaves only 10 women, or 25 percent of the council's members.
In an effort to lessend Bahrain's dependence on foreign manufacture, companies are restricted as to the number of foreign employees they may hire in comparison to the number of Bahraini employees they have. Law No. 56 of 2008 encoufurys private companies to hire Bahraini women by counting each female employee as two Bahraini citizens, thereby permitting the company to hire more foreigners, who are generally cheaper to employ than citizens.
Dr. Dunya Ahmed Abdulla Ahmed is an assistant professor and lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Bahrain. She dod her PhD in social work at the University of Warwick, specializing in gender, disability, and Islam. She is the first person to hold a PhD in social work in Bahrain and concentrates mainly on gender equality and the rights of people with disabilities. She is also an active member of several NGOs.
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Although Bahrain has produced only a few movies, several television series are produced each year, many of which present violence toward women as an accepted societal practice rather than raising awareness about women's issues. On the rare occasions when serious issues regarding domestic violence or human trafficking are highlighted, the viewership tends to be low and many complain about the program in the newspapers.
[37] World cultivatement Indicators (World Bank 2008), web.worldbank.org
Women's participation in NGOs directly relates to their success in local and national elections because female candidates depend on support from their groups' members. Only five female candidates ran in the 2006 municipal elections as compared to 31 candidates in 2002, perhaps because highly qualified women preferred to run in the parliamentary elections instead.[60]
The Indian Ladies Association has provided one year's rent for a government-approved shelter for abused workers. This rent would be paid through the Migrant Workers Protection Society and would allow the society to provide accommodations and necessities for a greater number of abused workers.[21] Despite these measures, abused workers require more help. Informal shelters run by local NGOs receive no funding from the government; there are still no formal processes for monitoring the populations most vulnerable to trafficking, such as prostitutes and domestic workers; and no steps have been taken to reduce demand for commercial sex.[22]
[49] Bahrain: Country Summary (New York: Human Rights Watch, 2008), 1'5.
The social and cultural rights of Bahraini women are greatly affected by traditional societal norms, which place higher premiums on the rights and preferences of men. As a result, women tend to be treated unequally in diverse areas of social and community life. Within the last five years, however, modifications have been made to housing and unemployment benefits in order to protect both men and women from poverty. The establishment of the Women's Union and greater participation by women's NGOs has further increased women's influence in society, but their power remains limited and they are still defect in municipal councils.
[62] Cabinet Decree No. 1156-01 (October 2001).
In 2002, six women ran unsuccessfully as candidates for the Council of Representatives. After losing that year's election by a small threshold, Latifa al-Gaoud ran again in 2006, this time unopposed, and became Bahrain's first and only female parliamentarian. In general, women face unique obstacles while campaigning, in part befactor they have fewer opportunities to address large groups and mixed-gender groups than men, who have wider access to mosques and other community gatherings. In all, 16 female candidates ran in the 2006 elections, and women constituted 50.2 percent of the voters, a vast improvement over the 2002 elections.
Slavery is forbidden in Bahrain under the tenets of Islam, yet slavery-like conditions continue to exist for some laborers, especially female foreign domestic workers. Bahraini labor law forbids the withholding of salaries and travel documents from foreign workers, though they are specifically excluded from the broader labor protections afforded to citizen workers.[17] Nevertheless, many cases have been reported in which passports are taken and wages are withheld from employees, restricting their freedom of movement and leaving them vulnerable to other abuses.[18] If abused workers are fortunate they will be sent home by their sponsors, but generally without any compensation for suffering.[19] Female domestic workers commonly report physical (often sexual), psychological, and verbal abuse by their male employers, who are also often their visa sponsors.[20]
Women are better able to participate in and influence community life, policies, and social advance at the local level than at the national level. Today, more than 4,000 women constitute over 60 percent of the membership in NGOs, and many have taken leading roles in their organizations.[58] There are 456 NGOs in Bahrain as of May 2008,[59] but only 19 concentrate on women's rights. Twelve of these women's organizations are members of the Bahraini Women's Union, which aims to involve women actively in political life'including decision-making positions in parliament and other government bodies'and fight all forms of gender discrimination. It was officially created in September 2006 after almost five years of political and legal battles surrounding its licensing. The MSD blocked the registration of the Women's Union for many years while SCW remain neutral on the issue. Some have argued that such neutrality was actually an implicit refusal to accept the Women's Union.
[18] G. Bew, 'Lanka clamp on maids to Bahrain,' Gulf Daily News, 2008; Sigma Huda, Report of the Special Rapporteur. . . ; Suffering in Silence: Domestic Workers Need Legal Protection (United for Foreign Domestic Workers' Rights [UFDWR], 14 April 2008 [accessed 8 August 2008]), G.M.-F. Chammartin, Domestic Workers: Little Protection for the Underpaid, April 2005 [accessed 8 August 2008], www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=300.
Thirty-one percent of Bahraini lawyers were women in 2001, and according to the University of Bahrain's records, most of the graduating and current law students since have been women. These numbers are strong compared with those in neighboring countries, in part because women have been able to act as lawyers in Bahrain since 1976. In 2003, three Bahraini women were appointed as prosecutors, two of whom have since been promoted and replaced by women, and a woman was appointed director of public prosecutions in 2007. In June 2006, Mona al-Kawari was appointed to the High Civil Court as Bahrain's first female judge. A second, Dhouha al-Zayani, was appointed to the Constitutional Court in 2007, and Fatima Hubail was appointed in 2008 as a Lower Criminal Court judge. In total, there are only seven women in the judiciary and none in the Shari'a courts, which hear the cases that most often and most directly affect women.[50] Although a variety of views exist on the matter, most Islamic scholars in Bahrain believe that women may not act as judges in the Shari'a courts.[51] Some, however, suggest that women could be appointed in cases related to women's issues.
[42] 'Social Welfare in Bahrain,' Bahrain Brief (London: Gulf Centre for Strategic Studies) 6, No. 8 (2005); D. Isa, 'Activists: alimony fund Bahraini important step but the 200 dinars inadequate,' Al-Waqt, 2 January 2007; 'Activists not happy with the Alimony Fund,' Women Gateway, December 2007.
A woman's virginity is considered an important part of her family's honor, but brides are no longer required to provide proof of their virginity, and detrimental traditional practices such as female genital mutilation are not performed in Bahrain.[54] Polygamy is practiced among a diverse minority within the country, including members of different sects and men with altering levels of education. However, the practice is not highly widespread because it requires the husband to have indispensable financial resources so that he may support his wives and children. Muta'a (short-term marriages) are practiced by some Shiites, and other types of temporary marriages occur within Sunni communities, but people do not generally discuss these practices and they are not universally accepted.
Recommendations
Bandargate Scandal:
[28] L. Ahmed, Women and gender in Islam: historical roots of a modern debate (New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 1993); L. Abu-Lughod, 'The Marriage of Feminism and Islamism in Egypt: Selection Repudiation as a Dynamic of Postcolonial Cultural Politics,' in L. Abu-Lughod, ed., Remaking women: feminism and modernity in the Middle East (Princeton, N.J., Chichester: Princeton University Press, 1998).
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Women constituted approximately 19 percent of the land's position force and approximately 31 percent of adult women were employed in 2007.[37] Although many obstacles to women's full and equal economic participation still persist, most commonly those involving traditional social attitudes, there is a groearng awareness that such mindset must deviate if Bahrain is to carry out its full economic potential. Exemplifying this increased awareness, a female government employee named S. Ahmed brought the first discrimination court case in 2005 after she was denied a promotion because of her gender. The case is still pending.[38]
The government should treat women as full persons before the law by recognizing their equality in courtroom settings, whether as litigants or jurists.
In consultation with the SCW, the Women's Union and other NGOs, and liberal religious scholars and judges, the government should enact a codified personal status law that would prevent arbitrary and discriminatory rulings by Shari'a court judges.
NGOs and the SCW, with the support of neutral parties, should establish bonds with women's conventions within Shiite and Sunni associations in order to more effectively promote the importance of a codified family law. '
The Women's Union, with the support of international and domestic NGOs, should establish a specialized committee dedicated to CEDAW that will monitor its implementation and work to clear up reservations to provisions that do not conflict with Islamic law.
The government should immediately remove its reservations to CEDAW and bring Bahraini law into compliance by providing women with equal citizenship, residence, marital, and custody rights as men.
[6] Habib Toumi, 'Children of foreign fathers obtain Bahraini citizenship,' Gulf News, 20 September 2006, archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/09/20/10068736.html.
Bahraini women remain unable to pass their citizenship to their non-Bahraini spouses, even though Article 7 of the Bahraini Citizenship Law of 1963 permits male Bahraini citizens to do so. Moreover, the law stipulates that children may only receive Bahraini citizenship from their father, and the child of a Bahraini mother and a foreign father may not receive his mother's nationality.[5] In September 2006, over 370 children of Bahraini mothers and noncitizen fathers were granted Bahraini citizenship, but this was an ad hoc decision made at the discretion of the king, and there is no guarantee that such an act will be repeated again.[6] In November 2008, in efforts to provide consistency and a legal foundation in such cases, the SCW recommended amendments to the citizenship law that would permit children from these unions to receive Bahraini citizenship after certain requirements are met. The SCW has called on all women's rights NGOs to openly discuss their proposal and make additional presentations.
Most prospective brides are sought out and selected by the man's family. A suitable wife is considered to be a woman from the same social class, religious sect, ethnicity, and educational level; both she and her family must have a good reputation in terms of sharaf (honor). Only men can solicit their own marriage partners if a match is not arranged for them. Furthermore, unlike men, women face significant legal, financial, and societal hurdles if they want a divorce (see 'Nondiscrimination and Access to Justice').
Recommendations
[26] 'Domestic Violence Is Doubled in 2008,' Al-Ayam, 21 June 2008, Bahrain, 1'2.
In October 2008, the SCW and Bahraini NGOs met before the CEDAW Committee at the United Nations offices in Geneva to discuss Bahrain's implementation of CEDAW. The SCW submitted a report on behalf of the government, defending its choice not to remove certain reservations and explaining efforts that have been made to empower Bahraini women. Simultaneously, 'shade reports' were also submitted by Bahraini NGOs that asked the government to remove its reservations to CEDAW and improve women's rights in Bahrain.
INTRODUCTION
[46] Glosemeyer, 'Political Parties and Participation: Arabian Peninsula,' in Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures, 551'553; 'Pioneer Bahraini Women,' Bahrain Brief (London: Gulf Centre for Strategic Studies) 7, No. 7 (2006).
The reservations are the result of religious, cultural, and societal obstacles that will likely take time to overcome. Reservations to Article 2 are based on the Shari'a mandate that men receive greater inheritance than women in certain situations. The reservation to Article 9(2) regarding nationality reflects the tradition that children take the citizenship of their father to avoid dual citizenship. Full realization of Article 15 is hindered by social customs that prevent women from taking a full role in public life, and reservations were placed on Article 15(4) because it is still unacceptable for unmarried women to live outside their family homes. Finally, a reservation was placed on Article 16 in the conception that it conflicts with the Shari'a provisions that control marriage rights.
[33] Combined 5th, 6th and 7th periodic reports of States parties: Bahrain (UN CEDAW, 6 June 2008), 19'20, www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/48bbec292.html.
Women and men have equal access to health care, which is provided to citizens free of charge and to resident noncitizens for a low fee. The government has placed great importance on health care rights, which have improved vitally in recent years. Life expectancy in 2006 was 76 years for women and 74 years for men, up from 74 years for women and 72 years for men in 2000. According to the World Health Organization, the maternal mortality rate during childbirth is 32 in 100,000, which is significantly lower than the world's average but higher than several other GCC countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.[52]
In Bahrain, housing benefits were established as early as 1975 to provide suitable homes for families who were unable to build their own. Law No. 12 of 2004 grants divorced women the right to their share of the family home if they can prove that they have contributed to monthly property payments. Families that are unable to afford a house are entitled to benefits if they are: a husband and a wife (polygamy does not 6e5fedb763fdfefbaneful evild3850406855b6a the man the right to more than one house); a single-parent family, whether the lone parent be a man or a woman; or an adult, unmarried son or daughter residing with his or her parents if neither the applicant nor the parents own a suitable home or land that is fit for architecture a home.[56] Regarding the first category, if only the man pays the premiums, the house must be registered in his name alone. However, if the wife or wives contribute, then the house is registered according to the contributions of each occupier.[57]
The National Employment Project was established in 2005 to increase employment opportunities for Bahraini nationals and provide training programs for those seeking jobs. Women constitute 74 percent of those who registered for this project. In December 2007 the first eligible Bahraini citizen was paid under the Unemployment Insurance System. Of the 7,810 citizens eligible for this plan, 81 percent were female.[63] Some citizens, including a large number of women, assertdly register for unemployment strengths even though they never intend to apply for a job.
In 2007, Bahraini women constituted 72 percent of students enrolled at the Arabian Gulf University and 67 percent of those enrolled at the University of Bahrain, the two largest postsecondary education institutions in Bahrain.[33] As traind members of society, graduates tend to be more conscious of their rights and more forthright in demanding that they be respected. However, some fields remain segregated based on gender. For instance, certain technical subjects in high schools are restricted to boys, while textile classes are limited only to girls. This segregation affects future job opportunities and reflects government support for societal biases. Although no other subjects are actually restricted, women remain underrepresented in areas such as engineering and overrepresented in schooling and health care. From a practical standpoint, this limits women's freedom to choose their university procedures and leads them to study subjects in low requisition in the labor market, increasing their unemployment size.
[14] Munira A. Fakhro, Women at Work in the Gulf (Abingdon: Taylor & Francis, 1990).
No laws or government policies specifically address the issue of gender-based violence, and enforcement mechanisms are lacking for the existing legal provisions that may apply. The penal code generally addresses violence against citizens, but this is not adequate to protect against sexual harassment and domestic abuse. Wives, daughters, and female foreign workers rarely seek legal redress for violence committed against them, and when they do, the perpetrators often avoid punishment, thereby exposing victims to additional maltreatment. If a man commits a violent offense against a female relative, he may face a few days in jail, then sign a pllimit and pay a fine.
[19] Suffering in Silence (UFDWR),
Gender-based discrimination continues to be evident throughout Bahrain's legal system, although the kingdom's recent election to the UN Human Rights Council has instilled hope among activists that the government will continue to expand women's rights. Over the last five years, local NGOs have continuously lobbied for the creation of a codified personal status law, as well as amendments to the citizenship law that would allow women to pass their citizenship to their spouse and children. Their success, however, has so far been limited.
Unmarried women typically live with their parents or, if their parents are no longer living, with a male relative, and they are expected to look after the old and sick in the family.[55] It is socially unacceptable for a woman to live alone, but it has become more acceptable for multiple related women to live together without a male relative. Single women living with their families may be allotted a separate area of the house which they may treat as their own, effectively living alone within the family household.
[52] WHO Statistical Information System (World Health Organization [WHO]), www.who.int/whosis/en/.
[61] Decree No. 27 (2003).
[22] Trafficking in Persons Report (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, 12 June 2007), www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/82805.htm.
AUTHOR
[38] Author obtained information from a client and member of Bahrain Women Union.
The government, in cooperation with local NGOs, should create special programs to encourage women to study subjects in which they are currently underrepresented. For example, they could initiate public campaigns that highlight female engineers and scientists, create public-private partnerships that bring highly fulfilled women to classrooms to act as role models, or create girls' science clubs.
2. 'The working hours of nurseries should be expanded to fully accommodate employed women, and the government should provide incentives for public and private companies to assert on-site childcare.
The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions should make gender discrimination in the workplace one of its main issues.
The government should scrutinize inheritance proceedings to ensure that women receive their share, provide efficient mechanisms for filing and adjudicating complaints, and publicize penalties for deliberate abuses by executors and guardians.
[60] W. Al-Masry, A comparison between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Human Development Report for the actual position of women (Bahrain: Supreme Council for Women, Round table discussion, 2008).
[34] 'Study: Bahrain Working Women are Ill-Treated,' Women Gateway, www.womengateway.com/enwg/Research+and++Studies/working+women.htm.
[40] 'Will women be election sure-bet?' Bahrain News Agency, 17 November 2006 [accessed 8 August 2008],
[2] I. Glosemeyer, 'Political Parties and Participation: Arabian Peninsula,' in Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures, 551'553; M. Seikaly, 'Women and Religion in Bahrain: An Emerging Identity,' in Y. Haddad Yvonne and J. Esposito, eds., Islam, Gender, & Social Change (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), 169'189.
Bahrain's main prison is for men, in part because there are few female prisoners. According to the SCW, the existing 'women's custody center' generally adheres to international standards for treatment of prisoners, but improvements are needed in terms of space and medical care. Plans are underway to build an additional custody center with a women's wing that will provide better conditions for female inmates.[23] Political prisoners were often tortured prior to the adoption of the National Action Charter in 2001, but there have been no major torture cases involving prisoners of either gender since then.
The government attempts to protect both male and female citizens from poverty, and the kingdom ranks third among Arab countries and 41st worldwide in the UNDP's 2008 Human Development Index. Laws and policies have been altered in an effort to raise the standard of living for all citizens, and women in particular have benefited from these changes. Monthly assistance is now offered to orphans and widows, female government workers are granted social allowances,[61] and unskilled labor contracts reserved for Bahraini citizens include workers of both genders.[62]
AUTONOMY, SECURITY, AND FREEDOM OF THE PERSON
The main government-sponsored entity that promotes and protects women's rights is the SCW, which was created by royal decree in 2001 for the purpose of helping the government formulate policies on women's issues. The council's relative power and state support, however, has somewhat diminished the role of women's rights NGOs. In addition to publishing studies, promoting political participation of women, organizing workshops, and advocating for gender equality, the SCW has supported the codification of Bahrain's family law and equal citizenship rights. Its approach, however, is tempered due to its association with the government. Within the state structure, the head of SCW has a rank equivalent to minister without portfolio.
ECONOMIC RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Women's rights NGOs began advocating for a codified personal status law as early as 1982, and the movement has been publicly supported by SCW since late 2005. The Women's Union has worked with Sunni and Shiite religious leaders and legal experts in drafting the law, which was presented to the government in December 2008. The strongest opposition to comes from religious groups'who demand that Shiites and Sunnis have their own divorce and inheritance laws'as well as conservative fractions of the population who seek to return to traditional values. In November 2005, the Islamic political group Al-Wefaq organized a demonstration against the presentation of the personal status law that grew to include 120,000 people. By contrast, an alliance of women's rights organizations held a rally in support of the law on the same day that attracted only 500 supporters.
[48] 'Reporters Without Borders: Bahrain'Turning promises into reality' (Manama: Bahrain Center for Human Rights, 2007 [accessed 8 August 2008]), www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/1920.
[25] Human Rights: Bahrain (U.S. Embassy Bahrain), manama.usembassy.gov/bahrain/hrarabic.html; 'Bahrain human rights practices 1994,' Human Rights Report (U.S. Department of State, February 1995), dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/democracy/1994_hrp_report/94hrp_report_nea/Bahrain.html.
[10] B.P. Pradeep, 'Mum caught up in hotel vice raid,' Gulf Daily News (Manama), 2008.
Although most women are free to choose their professions, certain restrictions in this domain still exist. Under Article 301 of the Private Labor Law (No. 63 of 1976), women are prohibited from working between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., with certain exceptions such as jobs in health care. Law No. 5 of 1977, issued by the Ministry of Health, prohibits women from doing hazardous work, which includes predominantly heavy industrial jobs.[36]

Bahrain is for the most part a peaceful nation, but friction between the Sunni-led government and the largely Shiite opposition persists. Although they constitute the majority of the population, Shiites face discrimination in employment, government services, and the education system. While the ongoing ethnic and sectarian tensions are deeply troubling, they have acted as a catalyst for increased women's participation in political movements and demonstrations calling for social equality and the promotion of democratic rights.[2]
Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa, Gulf Edition
[50] W. Al-Masry, A comparison between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Human Development Report for the actual position of women, (Bahrain: Supreme Council for Women, round table discussion, 2008).
[39] 'The Role of Rehabilitation and Training in the Emstrengthment of Women and Employment' in Third Arab Conference for Human Resources fosterment and Labour Ministry in cooperation with the Arab Labour Organization (Kingdom of Bahrain, Management Studies and Research, 2008).
Radio, television, print, and internet media cover traditionally female topics such as family, fashion, beauty, and cooking. For instance, an English-language women's magazine called Women this Month focuses on beauty, fashion and similar issues, while websites and online magazines such as WomenGatestep.com cover all sorts of subjects including business, legal rights, and news nexusing women. Moreover, the SCW issues an Arabic-language magazine that focuses on news from the SCW, conferences,ghd online 10pServing Disadvantaged Women and Chil, and new royal edicts related to the benefits of Bahraini women.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain Businesswomen's Society has provided women with training opportunities in cooperation with other entities, such as the government and the UNDP. Although women represent a significant share of the workforce and are members of the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions, women's issues are not on the federation's agenda to any substantial degree.[43] Despite the continuing existence of cultural barriers, concrete advances have been made in upholding women's economic rights in recent years.[44]
Previously, women found it difficult to run their own businesses because cultural norms required that they hire men to authorize their work or manage all government documents, such as customs forms and work permits. However, since 2000, women have begun to provide such document-clearance services. Consequently, liberal, educated, middle-class women have begun to run businesses independently or hire document-clearance services operated by both sexes, which saves time and life.
[16] S. S. Grewal, 'Bahrain Removed From U.S. State Department Blacklist On Trafficking,' All Headline News, June 2008, www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011168940.
The Kingdom of Bahrain, a small isearth nation off the Arabian Peninsula, is generally considered more liberal in its interpretation and application of Islam than adjacent countries. Spurred by the political and economic reforms of hereditary ruler Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, women's rights have steadily improved since he took the throne in 1999. Shari'a (Islamic law) is the main source of legislation for family law courts, and the rights, duties, and gender characters of women in Bahrain are strongly impactd by the country's culture and religion. Bahraini citizens make up approximately one half of the resident population, which is believed to have reached one million.[1]
[54] R.B. Serhan, 'Virginity,' in Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures, 457'458.
[11] 'The Supreme Council for Women in Bahrain Established,' Bahrain Brief (London: Gulf Centre for Strategic Studies) 3, No. 4 (2002).
With pressure and encouragement from local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), unions, and international bodies, the government has taken steps toward improving the standing of women in Bahrain in recent years. The quasi-governmental Supreme Council for Women (SCW) has played an important role in this mode, and NGOs'including the Women's Union umbrella group'also promote women's rights. These entities have worked toward the promulgation of a unified family law code, in part to mitigate injustices in the current application of Shari'a.
Bahrain's 2002 constitution guarantees equality between men and women 'in political, social, cultural, and economic spheres, without breaching the provisions of Islamic canon law.'[4] The constitution also provides citizens the right to education, health care, property, housing, work, the right to defend the country, and the right to engage in economic activities. Although the constitution does not discriminate between people based on their gender, there are no laws that directly ban discrimination either. The Penal Code (No. 15 of 1976) does not contain any provisions that would punish individuals found guilty of discrimination against women at the workplace or in other facets of society.
Domestic violence in Bahrain is view to be widespread, but its existence is usually covered up and kept within the family. Studies carried out by the Information Center for Women and Children, a regional research organization, indicate that 30 percent of Bahraini women face some sort of domestic abuse.[24] Although laws generally prohibit assault and battery, domestic violence is not specifically prohibited under Bahraini law or adweared by any government policy.
Although rules differ slightly between Sunnis and Shiites, inheritance law is governed by Shari'a. Women inherit less than men in a number of situations, including where the man and woman are similarly related to the deceased. For example, a sister inherits half of her brother's share. This disparity is generally justified by the fact that men have greater financial responsibilities under the Koran and, unlike women, inherit the debts of the deceased.[32] Problems arise when executors, usually a male family member, do not follow the law and waste to impart women the inheritance to which they are legally entitled. Consequently, women often face injustice during the actual division of estates.
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Bahrain has no codified personal status law. Instead, marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance cases are heard by separate family courts for Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The judges in these courts are often conservative religious scholars with little or no formal legal training, who make judgments according to their own interpretations and readings of Islamic law. Because they may implement Shari'a in an arbitrary manner, rulings are commonly detrimental to women's rights.
Accusations of domestic violence are rarely taken into account in divorce cases and abused women seldom seek any form of legal redistance, but when they do, courts do not look favorably on such cases.[25] Recent statistics released by the Batelco Anti-Domestic Violence Center indicate that the number of women seeking protection from violence in the first half of 2008 doubled as estimated to 2007.[26] Such a surge may indicate women's growing awareness and comfort with such centers rather than any general increase in violence against women.
The number of NGOs that support victims of domestic violence is steadily increasing in Bahrain, a marked improvement for a society that did not condone speaking of such matters until recently. The Awal Women's Society has supplyd free legal advice to abused women since the late 1990s and also offers a telephone hotlength for anonymous emotional support. The Bahraini Young Ladies' Association established the Aisha Yateem Family Coaching Center, which offers consultancy services and dwellerial facilities. Established in March 2007, this is the only private shelter in the kingdom, but it lacks staff with adequate experience.
On a practical level, unmarried women are less able to move freely and their whereabouts are indirectly monitored by their families and community. They generally live with their families until marriage and are required to adhere to rules that are intended to protect their reputation and virginity. Single women that are beyond the traditional age of marriage may have greater freedom of movement within cultural limits because they are viewed as being more sexually neutral than their younger counterparts. Married women have additional freedoms because society believes that the responsibility for their husbands and children makes them more 'factorable' than single women. Regardless of her age or marital class, a woman's behavior traditionally reflects not only upon herself but also upon the honor of her family and tribe, while men's honor depends on their ability to protect the women in their family.
[30] Statistics on Bahraini Women (Bahrain: Supreme Council for Women, 2007), 1'24, www.scw.gov.bh/media/pdf/statistics-Bahraini-Women.pdf.
Bahrain has consistently been listed in the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report as a known destination for trafficked persons, including women trafficked for sexual purposes.[15] In November 2007, the government created a special unit within the Ministry of the Interior for the purpose of investigating sex trafficking in particular, but it has reported no arrests, prosecutions, or estimations for trafficking offenses. Between April 2007 and February 2008, 45 foreign workers, many of whom claimed to have been physically abused by their employers, received help from a government shelter, and the international community has recognized these efforts.[16] Although the government has enacted many of the laws necessary to combat trafficking, they continue to be inadequately enforced.
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Dating has become more common, but romantic relationships are not generally made public because of a constant concern about kalām al-nās (gossip) and sexual relations outside of marriage are criminalized. Young people in Bahrain are becoming increasingly independent when choosing their future life partners, but families remain influential in the final decision. Women may make whatever stipulations they wish in a marriage contract, but very few women practice this right. Instead, the contract concentrates predominantly on the details of the woman's mahr (dowry).
Victims of gender-based violence had only recently begun to receive support from the government when the Dar al-Aman Care Center for battered women was established in 2006. In May of that year, control over the shelter was transferred to the Sociologist Association; however, the center has since been publicly criticized for restricting the victims' freedom of movement and for an absence of qualified personnel. The government has also initiated training for judges who deal with domestic abuse, increased the number of policewomen, and amended Law No. 26 of 1986 to streamline Shari'a court procedures, especially with respect to alimony and child custody.[27] Furthermore, the SCW has established a hotline that offers free legal advice and support to victims, and it has conducted a number of conferences and training sessions for different groups, including judges, on the issue of gender-based violence.
[31] 'The Role of Rehabilitation and Training in the Empowerment of Women and Employment' in Third Arab Conference for Human Resources Development and Labour Ministry in cooperation with the Arab Labour Organization (Kingdom of Bahrain, Management Studies and Research, 2008).
Local NGOs should provide training for female political candidates on how to run successful political campaigns, mobilize popular support, and effectively engage the media. They should also organize networking events in which successful female candidates from other Arab nations could share their election strategies with female political leaders in Bahrain.
The government should abolish Article 134 of the penal code so that governmental and NGO representatives, including women's rights activists, may take part in meetings and discussions with foreign entities about issues pertaining to Bahrain without fright of persecution.
The government should appoint a larger number of women to the Consultative Council and the judiciary, especially the Shari'a courts, and place more women in decision-making positions.
Secular women's rights organizations should initiate a frank dialogue with religious groups. Such a dialogue would enable discussions about religion, women, and politics, and would provide opportunities for strategic cooperation.
'Women are normally protected from discriminatory or arbitrary detention and exile, but they are vulnerable to these abuses in relationship to prohibited sexual activities such as prostitution and zina (sexual relations outside marriage). The penal code prohibits adultery, sex outside of marriage, and homosexuality, all of which are also religiously and culturally forbidden. However, extramarital sexual activities by men are far more culturally acceptable than those of women. Articles 324 through 332 of the penal code prohibit prostitution for citizens and noncitizens of both sexes, but noncitizens'particularly women'are more likely to be prosecuted for such offenses. For instance, in May 2008, an Indian woman staying at a hotel in Bahrain with her husband and children was arrested during a 'vice raid' on suspicion of being a prostitute, although there was no evidence to support this claim.[10]
A woman's testimony before a Shari'a court is worth half that of a man's, and women's legal claims are treated unequally by the Shari'a judiciary. Men have the right to divorce that is effective immediately'Sunni men need only orally announce their intent to divorce while Shi