The council will also discuss a reply expected from the Minister of Education, Dr Majeed bin Ali Al Nuaimi, on the administrative affairs at the University of Bahrain, particularly of the Board of Directors. The question was raised by MP Jamal Mohamed Fakhro.
The ban on smoking in public places will also come up for discussion.
Al Zayed said the ministry’s development strategies for empowerment of women are an area of concern. “We are not looking for Bahraini women’s traditional role. We need to know what new programmes are being finalised to achieve the goal.
“It is important that those involved in preparing strategies for women to be qualified and committed. It is also important to have well-meaning strategists to plan and operate the programme,” she said.
“It is important to look at the media as a profession for women. I feel that women are now looked at only as housewives. We want a change, with women going into politics, financial fields and religion. At least 50 per cent women are in the religious field. We also want women to realise that women take part in politics at the international level. In Bahrain, women can also be seen as directors, decision-makers and senior officials.
“To a question raised earlier, Bukamal had said he would implement strategies formulated by the Supreme Council for Women, which we see as a positive move.
“Women in the media can help ensure that the benefits of progress filter down to the grassroots. This does not in any way mean alienation of male counterparts in the field,” Al Zayed said. She said seven newspapers were being published in the Kingdom but the coverage on women and programmes for them received very little attention. “This has to change. We intend to at women’s role in all spheres,” Al Zayed said.
