Progress Amid Resistance

70 WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAindicate that the number of women seeking protection from violence inthe first half of 2008 doubled as compared to 2007. 30 Such a surge mayindicate women’s growing awareness and comfort with such centers ratherthan any general increase in violence against women.The number of NGOs that support victims of domestic violence issteadily increasing in Bahrain, a marked improvement for a society that didnot condone speaking of such matters until recently. The Awal Women’sSociety has provided free legal advice to abused women since the late1990s and also offers a telephone hotline for anonymous emotional support.The Bahraini Young Ladies’ Association established the Aisha YateemFamily Coaching Center, which offers consultancy services and residentialfacilities. Established in March 2007, this is the only private shelter in thekingdom, but it lacks staff with adequate experience.The Batelco Anti-Domestic Violence Center, a nonprofit organizationthat was created in 2006 to rehabilitate victims of domestic violence, is theonly successful partnership between the private sector and civil society inthe field of domestic violence. Another partnership was formed in 2007between the U.S.-based NGO Vital Voices, the Bahraini company SmartCoaching and Research Center, and the U.S. State Department’s MiddleEast Partnership Initiative. Together, these entities work to advance civilsociety activity regarding domestic violence. The program also attempts toprovide training in advocacy, volunteerism, and other areas.Victims of gender-based violence had only recently begun to receivesupport from the government when the Dar al-Aman Care Center for batteredwomen was established in 2006. In May of that year, control over theshelter was transferred to the Sociologist Association; however, the centerhas since been publicly criticized for restricting the victims’ freedom ofmovement and for an absence of qualified personnel. The government hasalso initiated training for judges who deal with domestic abuse, increasedthe number of policewomen, and amended Law No. 26 of 1986 to streamlineShari‘a court procedures, especially with respect to alimony and childcustody. 31 Furthermore, the SCW has established a hotline that offers freelegal advice and support to victims, and it has conducted a number ofconferences and training sessions for different groups, including judges, onthe issue of gender-based violence.Although commendable, the improvements made by both NGOs andthe government are insufficient to protect women from domestic abuse,