SDGs are integrated, indivisible, and global in nature, and recognizes the different capacities and
national levels, and respects national policies and priorities. This Plan of Action is built on the
achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which was adopted in 2000, and had
led development work over the past fifteen years.
16. The National Institution commends the National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women,
adopted by the Supreme Council for Women, for the years (2013-2022). The National Plan includes
five themes, which seek to ensure family stability in the context of family bonds, empower women’s
ability and qualification to enhance their competitive contribution in the path of development, which
is based on the principle of equality opportunities, and integrate women’s needs in development to
secure opportunities for excellence in performance and improve their choices towards their quality
of life and lifelong learning , through integrated work with partners and allies with the various
governmental bodies and civil society institutions, so as the Supreme Council for Women becomes
the national house of expertise specialized in women’s affairs.
17. In this regard, the National Institution values the launching of the National Model for the Integration
of Women’s Needs, which is considered a national guide for policy and general strategies makers,
legislators and program executors and planners. It sets the general framework for the work of
these parties to ensure a true and sustainable integration of Bahraini women in the development
process. It also seeks to achieve a balance on the distribution of resources in a manner that reduces
and bridges any gaps that affect equity of opportunities for men and women at the national level.
Moreover, it specifies the roles and responsibilities of different sectors within the framework of
national responsibility to achieve the sustainable effect of integrating women’s needs and equity
of opportunities. The Royal Order No. (14) of 2011 and the Royal Order No. (12) of 2014 were
issued, establishing and regulating the National Committee to follow up the implementation of the
National Model in the Integration of women’s needs into the government’s program of work.
18. Since women are the backbone of the family and the basis of its strength, healthy bringing up, and
righteous and sound development, Law No. (19) of 2017 was issued promulgating the Family Law,
which came to fill the legislative void arising from Law No. (19) of 2009 issuing the Family Provisions
Law (Part 1), which is applicable to individuals belonging to the Sunni school of jurisprudence and
does not extend to individuals subject to the Ja’afari school of jurisprudence. Thus, equating the
legal status among individuals to ensure the protection of the family in the society, the rules of
justice, and equity.
19. W
ith regard to the right to litigation, Law No. (23) of 2015 was issued amending certain provisions
of the Law of the Cassation Court promulgated by Decree-Law No. (8) of 1989, under which
litigants may contest before the Cassation Court the final judgments passed in respect of litigation
over civil, commercial, non-Muslim personal status, and penal matters, and legal proceedings
before the Shari’a courts according to the provisions of this Law, with the exception of the legal
proceedings related to divorce cases. Thus, it is lawful for litigants to appeal before the Court of
Cassation in judgments issued by the Supreme Shari’a Court of Appeal, or the Supreme Shari’a
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