Progress Amid Resistance

BAHRAIN 61under certain, extremely limited circumstances. Although they now haveaccess to adequate health care, academic opportunities, and employment,women need continued support in these areas to achieve equality withmen. Their participation in the workplace and in business has increased,and several Bahrainis are now listed among the most powerful businesswomenin the Arab world. 3Women have also achieved modest gains in terms of their politicalparticipation. One woman won a seat in the popularly elected Councilof Representatives in 2006 after running uncontested, becoming the firstelected female member of parliament in any Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) member state. Several women have also entered the judiciary inre cent years, and two are now government ministers. However, womencontinue to be underrepresented in decision-making positions in both thepublic and private sectors. Their representation in the government, judicialsystem, and political parties also remains insufficient.NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO JUSTICEGender-based discrimination continues to be evident throughout Bahrain’slegal system, although the kingdom’s recent election to the UN HumanRights Council has instilled hope among activists that the government willcontinue to expand women’s rights. Over the last five years, local NGOshave continuously lobbied for the creation of a codified personal statuslaw, as well as amendments to a law that would allow women to pass theircitizenship to their spouse and children. The adoption of a personal statuscode for Sunnis in May 2009 constitutes a partial victory, but the successof other efforts has so far been limited.Bahrain’s 2002 constitution guarantees equality between men andwomen “in political, social, cultural, and economic spheres, without breachingthe provisions of Islamic canon law.” 4 According to Article 2, Shari‘a isconsidered the main source of legislation. The constitution also providescitizens the right to education, health care, property, housing, work, theright to defend the country, and the right to engage in economic activities.Although the constitution does not discriminate between people based ontheir gender, there are no laws that directly ban discrimination either. ThePenal Code (No. 15 of 1976) does not contain any provisions that wouldpunish individuals found guilty of discrimination against women at theworkplace or in other facets of society.