Transformative E-Government and Innovation: Creating a Better Future for All 24 – 27 June 2013 “ Transforming Public Service Delivery to Advance Gender Equality “ Kingdom of Bahrain Supreme Council for Women “ Mainstreaming Women’s Needs into development : Platforms and Procedures” 25th June 2013 1 The Supreme Council for Women Origination and Future orientation Origination of the Supreme Council for Women • The Supreme Council for Women was established in 2001, and is Presided by HRH Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. • The Council is the official body concerned with women affairs. • It proposes public policies, with regards to the development of women 3 Organizational Structure Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa Wife of HM the King of Bahrain The council is comprised of 16 members Mrs. Hala Al-Ansari Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women Dr. Shaikha Maryam bint Hassan Al-Khalifa Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Women 4 Main Responsibilities 1. Propose public policy in the field of developing women’s affairs 2. Enable women to carry out their role in public life and merge their efforts with comprehensive development programs. 3. Ensure the implementation of the women-related principles laid down in the National Action Charter and the constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain 4. Follow up and evaluate the implementation of public policies regarding women. 5. Put forward proposals for amending existing legislations related to women and express views on draft laws and decisions dealing with women before they are submitted to the authority concerned. 6. Follow up the application of laws, resolutions and international conventions regarding women. 5 Supreme Council for Women Path Mainstreaming Women’s Needs Establishing Equal Opportunities Gender Sensitive Budgeting Leading National Efforts towards Women Advancement Excellence in Organizational Work Towards Global recognition National Plan for Bahraini Women Advancement (2013 -2022) National Plan for Implementing the National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women )2012-2007( National Strategy for the Advancement of Bahraini Women ) 2005) 6 Pillar 7 Pillar 6 Pillar 5 Pillar 4 Pillar 3 Pillar 2 Pillar 1 Progressive Transformation towards Interdependence and Integration of the National Plan National Impact Family Stability Equal Opport unities Knowledge Hub Multiple Outcomes Plans leveling to Outcomes Environment Revision and Correction Health Education and Training g Quality of Life Civil Society Family Economic Empowerment Decision Taking Life Long Learning 7 Family Stability Equal Opportunities Impact Building supportive believes and confirming practices that lead to the fulfillment of women’s needs within a framework of justice and expansion of choices and enhancing capabilities in the society in support of women’s rights Equal Opportunities Quality of Life Knowledge hub Life Long Learning Ensuring the principals of Justice and equal opportunities through mainstreaming women's’ needs in development programs Promoting sustainable developmental programs through implementing the Bahraini model for mainstreaming women’s needs Achieving competitiveness in all sectors and professions and levels through empowering women and building societal awareness about women's rights and duties 8 Mainstreaming Women's Needs Concepts and Platforms 9 Mainstreaming Women’s Needs in Development Child Rearing Women Societal Legislation Programs and Plans Material Social Productive Multiple Roles Fulfilling Needs through Moral Services Multiple Needs Offering choices Equal Partnership between men and women 10 Equal Opportunities Ensuring Equality and indiscrimination in offering opportunities in all areas, such as family, education, work, securing senior positions, while taking into consideration the needs, competence and abilities Although the number of Member Countries that have signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)exceeds the number of countries that signed any other convention of the United Nations, discrimination against women still exists in all parts of the World Sarah Douglas / United Nations Wage Gap between both sexes ranges 23% in USA and 28% in Canada 11 The First National Conference for Bahraini Women “First National Conference for Bahraini Women” was held in November 2010 Slogan “ Mainstreaming Women’s Needs in Development Programs … National Efforts : Equal Opportunities … Justice and development for all “ The conference aimed at stating national efforts exerted towards enhancing the concept of mainstreaming of women’s needs 12 Supreme Council for Women National Model for Mainstreaming Women’s Needs in Development Policies Equal Opportunities Units Gender Sensitive Budget Training Awareness Partnership Follow-up and Evaluation National Committee to Follow-up the Implementation of the National Model 13 Main Procedures Implemented to Execute the National Model for Mainstreaming Women’s Needs 14 Main Procedures Implemented to Execute the National Model National Committee to Follow-up the Implementation of the National Model Joint Committee with the Parliament Gender Sensitive Budgeting 15 Equal Opportunities Units Mainstreaming the needs of women in the policies, plans and budgets Providing gender segregated employee and beneficiary statistics Training employees in the field Applying the principle of equal opportunities amongst employees Raising awareness in the field of mainstreaming women’s needs and equal opportunities 16 Equal Opportunities Units Ministry / Organization Ministry of Social Development Shura Council Ministry of Foreign Affairs General Organization for Youth and Sports Ministry of Labor Information Affairs Authority Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry of works Ministry of Culture Ministry of housing National Oil and Gas Authority Ministry of Health Ministry of Finance Economic Development Board Council of Representative Ministry of Industry and Commerce Ministry of Transportation Ministry of Education 17 Equal Opportunities Units Current Status Private Sector Banking Sector Private Sector Ebdaa Bank Petroleum sector GPIC Industrial Sector Alba 18 Equal Opportunities Units GPIC EBDAA BANK - Measuring Equal Opportunities between employees and beneficiaries - Revising Mandate and policies to ensure the needs of women are taken into consideration ALBA - Establishing an equal opportunity committee - Revising and documenting practices that ensure equal opportunities - Providing sex disaggregated data - Providing Support Services for working women (e.g. nursery – flexi hours ) - Raising awareness between employees about the national model and equal opportunities - Moving towards establishing an equal opportunities unit 19 Training • In association with the UNDP two comprehensive training programs were conducted for Governmental Employees, workshops included the following fields : Main Concepts of Equal Opportunities Building Awarenes s and Advocacy Team Work and building effective teams Gender Sensitive Budgeting Enhancing Leadership skills in Women Strategic Planning Follow up and Evaluation Training of trainers • A similar program was conducted to civil society organizations, these included: - Women Organizations - Professional Organizations - Public Service Organizations - Political Organizations - Youth Organizations 20 Awareness and Advocacy Efforts in building awareness in the field include : - Seminars and meetings with decision makers - Workshops targeting all three sectors: civil /public/private - Publications in the field - Press Releases and coverage of related events - Associating a logo ( TAKAFO’A) for all and any productions or activities related to the national model for mainstreaming women’s needs 21 Gender Sensitive Budgeting Through the coordination with the Ministry of Finance, it was agreed: • Government ministries and organizations are to ensure their budgets are gender sensitive. • That budgets are allocated for the Equal Opportunities Units. • To set the principals and standards to analyze the government’s general budget regarding to the needs of women. 22 Gender Sensitive Budgeting • Four financial circulars have been issued by the ministry of finance during 2011,2012 and 2013 , all including instructions of means of taking Gender Sensitive Budgeting into consideration while setting and implementing the budget 23 Gender Sensitive Budgeting •Changing the budgeting policies to enhance a budgeting system that contains the principle of equal opportunities among men and women. •Reflecting the government’s commitments in issues related to mainstreaming women’s need in development into commitments reflected in the budgeting. •Raising awareness among decision makers over mainstreaming women’s needs in the development process and its impact on the budget. •Analyzing various effects of the financial policy of the country and its impact on both men and women. •Suggesting proposals for the revision of priorities in order to enhance the principle of equal opportunities 24 Gender Sensitive Budgeting Phase One Phase Two Including general Sex Dissertated descriptions Section within within the the Budget budgets Phase Three Budget completely Gender Sensitive 25 Thank you www.scw.bh 26