The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a celebration ceremony marking Bahrain Women’s Day in the presence of the ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, officials and employees.
The ceremony included a speech on behalf of the newly appointed female directors at the ministry delivered by the Director of Afro-Asian Affairs, Mona Radhi, in which she affirmed the great support that Bahraini women received during the blessed leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

She stressed that this support and the great attention paid by the leadership have made women a distinct element in the field of government work in particular, and opened all avenues and horizons to them, out of belief in their capabilities and what they can accomplish for their nation and for His Royal Highness.

She added that Bahraini women were fortunate for the support of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women.
Bahraini women have made great strides thanks to the constant care and the unlimited attention by Her Royal Highness, which enabled them to promote their great roles at all forums and receive the highest appreciation from the leadership, she said.

On the diplomatic front, the Director of Afro-Asian Affairs said that women working in the diplomatic corps received the great support and attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, which resulted in them attaining leading positions in the ministry and enabled them to upgrade the diplomatic work alongside their male counterparts.

She added that Bahraini women working in the diplomatic corps was an integral part of the leadership achieved by Bahraini diplomacy, which reached the highest levels in regional and international forums.

The ceremony also highlighted the continued support for Bahraini women led by Shaikh Khalid, who gave Bahraini women a greater role in the field of diplomatic work, whereby four ambassadors of the Kingdom of Bahrain were appointed with his support and attention at the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Belgium.

This continuous support and high confidence have also led to the appointment of Dr. Shaikha Rana as the first female Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the GCC level in 2017, and the appointment of five female directors in a number of directorates in the ministry.

In celebration of Bahraini Women's Day, which was dedicated this year to celebrate women in the engineering field, Shaikha Rana honoured a number of engineers who participated in the projects of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bahrain and abroad, who expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Undersecretary and to all officials at the ministry.

Source: BNA