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BAHRAIN - CALL TO PROTECT WOMEN'S RIGHTS

BAHRAIN needs to do more to further guarantee the effective implementation of a United Nations convention on protecting women's rights, say campaigners. The call follows a proposal by the Supreme Council for Women to lift one of Bahrain's reservations on granting women equal rights compared to men, with respect to the nationality of their children.

The Bahrain Women's Association for Human Development says that lifting reservations on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on nationality is not a lasting solution to the issue.

They say the only way for Bahraini women married to foreign nationals to secure nationality for their children is to have an amendment on Article 4 of the 1963 Citizenship Act.

The article currently states that only Bahraini men can pass on their nationality to their wives and children, but campaigners want to see this right extended to women.

The Supreme Council for Women had recently agreed on a proposal to lift a reservation on Article 9 of the CEDAW that states: "State parties shall grant women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of their children".

However, association board member Saba Al Asfoor said this was skirting the issue and it needed to be dealt with head on.

She said clear declarations were needed to affect change to the Citizenship Act. "We need to move on and intensify efforts and partnership between all parties concerned to amend the law in a way that fits with the constitution and the CEDAW so that Bahraini women have access to all full-fledged citizenship rights without discrimination between them and their male counterparts," she said.

However, a new decree entitles children of Bahraini women married to foreigners the same rights as Bahraini citizens with respect to fees for government services of health, education and accommodation, on condition of permanent residence in the country.

Ms Al Asfoor said the move was welcomed, but didn't go far enough.

She said the society wanted to see these children entitled to all the rights enjoyed by Bahraini citizens, including political participation, employment, right to own property, housing and educational scholarships.

"Bahrain needs equal citizenship for all citizens - men and women," said Ms Al Asfoor.

"It can be only through achieving the elimination of prejudices and the discrimination of all practices based on the idea of either sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women.

"Bahrain needs to adopt innovative concepts of Islam through education, mosques, media and family practices."

The association has been campaigning for Bahraini women to secure nationality for their children since 2005, under the slogan My Nationality is My Right and that of My Children.

According to 2005 figures, 1,728 children of Bahraini mothers were seeking nationality.

GCC nationals can obtain Bahraini citizenship after three years of residing in the country, while it is 15 years for Arab nationals and 25 years for non-Arabs.





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