Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), received the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and her accompanying delegation.

A number of women leaders and personalities attended the meeting at the SCW’s premises in Riffa.

HRH Princess Sabeeka welcomed the members of the delegation, and congratulated them on the opening of the UN Women Office in Bahrain, expressed hope that the office will strengthen UN Women-SCW relations.

HRH Princess Sabeeka expressed the SCW’s readiness to enhance cooperation with the UN regarding all women issues, noting that the SCW, 15 years after its inception, has become a regional think-tank in those issues, and has rich experiences in the fields of women advancements, consolidation of the equal opportunities principle and the integration of women’s needs in development.

The SCW president praised the UN efforts aimed at empowering women throughout the world, citing the UN efforts to promote the Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa’s Global Award for Women Empowerment.

In this regard, she said that the SCW is looking forward to announcing the details of the participation in the award in March, 2018, at the UN headquarters in New York, adding the results will be announced in December of the same year during a ceremony to be hosted by Bahrain.

HRH Princess Sabeeka extended thanks to the UN for participating in the launch of the database and statistics on domestic violence "Takatuf" by the SCW, in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, as part of the UN campaign to end violence against women, stressing that the move provided a suitable opportunity to inform the UN about Bahrain’s efforts in combating violence against women and consolidation of family stability.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka expressed admiration for Bahrain’s experience in the field of women advancement, affirming the UN’s constant desire to cooperate with Bahrain through the SCW on all women-related issues.

The UN official praised HRH Princess Sabeeka’s efforts in the field of women advancement.

She added that her visit to the kingdom and the events held on its sidelines will enhance cooperation between the SCW and the UN Women, and pave the way for more cooperation and coordination at the level of expertise and experience exchange, given the fact that the kingdom has become a global role model for various women empowerment and advancement issues.

HRH Princess Sabeeka held a reception attended by the UN Women chief and Bahraini women leaders and personalities.

The UN delegation was informed about Bahraini women’s achievements on the ground, as well as participation in the decision-making process, as major contributors to Bahrain’s GDP.