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Women’s Crisis Care International (WCCI) and the American Women’s Association (AWA) banded together on Monday in an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence.
While some attendees were dressed in pink in support of this month’s breast cancer awareness campaign, others were sporting purple, the colour used to spread another important message.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month has been running in October since 1995 when several organisations united globally to tackle the problem. During the event which was staged at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain, AWA president Diana Raia gave the floor to founder and chief executive officer of the WCCI, Mary-Justine Todd, to talk about the issue and the struggles that women in abusive relationships face.
According to the United Nations, 603 million women live in nations where domestic violence is not criminalised. However, the women of Bahrain are no longer included in this statistic. As of August 7 this year, domestic violence has been recognised as a crime punishable by law.
She said: “Bahrain is the first country in the entire Gulf to outlaw domestic violence. Law 17/2015 was a landmark ruling signed by His Majesty King Hamad.
“We now have the Supreme Council of Women (SCW) initiating a strategic plan for the elimination of violence against women here and will launch the National Strategy for the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, on November 25.”
Mary-Justine, a New York State rape crisis counsellor who has been working in women’s health and women’s rights for nearly 10 years, also discussed the kingdom’s achievements in combating domestic violence, the local campaigners and how far the organisation’s crisis centre had progressed since its launch in May.
She said: “Bahrain has long been a leader among the Gulf nations in terms of securing gender equality. Women in Bahrain were among the first to be educated, own businesses and enter the workforce.
“Since the establishment of the SCW in 2001, Bahraini women’s rise to full parity with men has skyrocketed, with many making historic accomplishments across all fields and sectors from finance and banking to education, health and sports.”
For example, Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa was the kingdom’s first female ambassador in 1999 as well as the third woman ever to chair a session of the UN General Assembly. Since then, more women have been appointed ambassadors and have entered the political sphere serving in the Shura Council and as government ministers.
Other highlights were the achievements of Bahrain Royal Endurance Team rider Dana Al Binghadeer Al Dossary, Alzain Tareq, who became the youngest-ever competitor to race at the World Championships when the Bahraini 10-year-old competed in the heats of the women’s 50-metre butterfly, and the success of the Bahrain bowling team at the third Arab Women’s Bowling Championships.
Mary-Justine also celebrated the progress of the WCCI operation in Bahrain which provides sensitivity training for schools, community organisations, medical groups, hospitals and clinics on how to recognise the signs of domestic and sexual abuse and how to react and respond in the moment in order to mitigate further suffering of the survivor.
Mary-Justine, who is the primary crisis trainer, said: “The WCCI has progressed amazingly well and amazingly quickly.
“We have now been accepted into Salmaniya Medical Complex and are ramping up to have full scale operations to start in January.
“We are regularly meeting with emergency room staff members so that they understand how the programme works and what their role is within it.”
In November, crisis councillor training will be staged and more than 70 women have already registered. The event will also involve several guest speakers including the Migrant Workers Protection Society and other community agencies and experts.
WCCI and AWA will continue to celebrate the success and accomplishments of the kingdom’s women on December 1 during the ninth annual Bahraini Women’s Day.
For further information, visit www.womenscci.org or www.awabahrain.
