Cooperation agreement signed to empower women in politics

Dr. Jehad Abdulla Al Fadhel, Second Deputy Chairperson of the Shura Council and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Network of Women Parliamentarians in Africa and the Arab World, signed a cooperation agreement with Joanna Lima, Chairperson of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean. The agreement aims to develop cooperation in the political and legislative empowerment of women, exchange knowledge and expertise in training and empowering women, and achieve common goals and interests related to women's empowerment. The signing took place on the sidelines of the participation of Bahrain's parliamentary delegation, led by Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, in the "Marrakech Parliamentary Economic Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Region," held in Marrakech from July 11 to 12. The Shura Council Second Deputy Chairperson emphasised that the cooperation agreement establishes means for joint work between the network and the forum, by activating and strengthening the role of parliamentarians, encouraging women's political participation, increasing their representation in legislative institutions, and organising joint events such as conferences, seminars, and workshops. These activities aim to discuss women's issues, share best practices, and implement joint awareness and training programmes in political leadership to develop women's capabilities and enhance their leadership and professional skills. She explained that the agreement aims to embed the culture of integrating women's needs into national development through innovative and comprehensive mechanisms, strategies, and action plans. The agreement also seeks to contribute to establishing legislative principles that regulate artificial intelligence to protect women's rights, preserve their dignity, and enhance cooperation with regional countries to achieve common rules, she added. The agreement focuses on strengthening cooperation among governments, parliaments, the private sector, civil society organisations, and academic circles in a coherent effort to address women's empowerment. It includes objectives such as supporting the legislative framework and enhancing parliamentary diplomacy tools. Dr. Al Fadhel added that the agreement aims to increase women's participation in public life and their representation in legislative institutions to achieve sustainable development goals. She highlighted that the agreement stresses the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in this area, facilitating cooperation among parliamentarians by sharing knowledge, experiences, and ideas. She mentioned that the agreement underscores that parliamentarians are key partners in policies aimed at closing the gender gap in line with sustainable development goals. The cooperation agreement reflects the Network and Forum's recognition that developing parliamentary relations will enhance consultation and exchange of views on issues of common interest related to women, strengthening the role of women parl iamentarians and fostering cooperation in political, economic, social, and cultural fields. Source: Bahrain News Agency