Promoting Gender Equality: The Princess Sabeeka Award for Women’s Empowerment
Introduction
The Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women’s Empowerment represents one of Bahrain’s most noteworthy international efforts aimed at supporting women’s empowerment. This prestigious award is open to a variety of participants, including government ministries, private organizations, civil society groups, and individuals across the globe.
Launching the Third Edition
During a recent side event at the UN Women headquarters in New York, held alongside the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Lulwa Saleh Al Awadhi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women, officially launched the third edition of the award. This event was organized in collaboration with UN Women to encourage further participation.
Bahrain’s Commitment to Empowerment
Al Awadhi emphasized Bahrain’s dedication to utilizing rigorous methodologies aligned with global standards for the award selection process. She noted the importance of an internationally recognized jury composed of experts in women’s advancement, thanking them for their commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the judging process.
Recognizing Global Efforts
The Secretary-General highlighted her belief that this year’s award would showcase innovative programs and significant contributions that promote the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. Such recognition offers valuable models that can inspire similar initiatives in different sectors and regions.
Event Overview
The event also featured a comprehensive presentation outlining the award’s objectives, criteria, and participation mechanisms, complemented by a promotional film detailing its journey since inception in 2017.
Collaboration with UN Women
Dr. Moez Doraid, Acting Regional Director of UN Women for the Arab States, praised the collaboration between UN Women and Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women. He described the Princess Sabeeka Award as a pioneering initiative that reflects alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and noted its positive impact on past recipients from various countries.
Future Initiatives
Dr. Doraid highlighted Bahrain’s recent election to the Executive Board of UN Women for the 2026–2028 term, stating that this membership will play a crucial role in shaping the organization’s future strategies. He also commended Bahrain’s contributions to the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference on Women (Beijing+30).
Encouragement for Participation
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Doraid called for governments, organizations, and individuals to submit applications for the award’s four categories, emphasizing the need for ongoing global collaboration to further women’s empowerment and promote gender equality.
