Bahrain

Shura CouncilCouncil of Representatives

Council of Representatives

Specialized body - Gender equality

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children
(April 2011)

About

Nature
Permanent

Members

Number of members
All MembersBelow 45 years of age
Total31
Men20
Women11
Political affiliation of members
Independent
3

Chairperson(s)

Chairperson: Sex
Male
Political affiliation
Independent

Chairperson

Chairperson: Sex
Male
Age: Chairperson is below 45 years of age
No
Political affiliation
Independent

Committee functions

Mainstream gender equality into the work of (other) parliamentary committees and of Parliament as a whole
Yes
Scrutinise all Bills from a gender perspective
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s policy from a gender perspective
Yes
Obtain information from the Executive about the justification for actions or inaction which affect gender equality and women’s rights
Yes
Scrutinise State compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
Yes
Initiate inquiries of its own choosing
No
Scrutinise proposed treaties on gender equality, and other international treaties with implications for gender equality and women’s rights, and report to Parliament thereon, prior to ratification
Yes
Ascertain and review the Executive’s reasons for not acceding to or ratifying existing international human rights treaties on gender equality and women’s rights
Yes
Scrutinise the Executive’s response to human rights judgments - of national, regional and international courts – that have gender considerations
Yes
Monitor the adequacy of the existing national system for the promotion of gender equality
No
Review the allocation and expenditure of funds in the State budget to support measures to promote gender equality and protect women’s rights
No

Committee involvement in international and national reporting mechanisms

Such as the UN Human Rights Council and its' Universal Periodic Review, the UN CEDAW Committee etc.
Consulted in the preparation of the most recent national report to the CEDAW Committee
Yes
Included in the official delegation which orally presented the most recent national report to the CEDAW Committee
No
Discussed the conclusions and recommendations which the CEDAW Committee adopted as a result
Yes
Conducted hearings with the Executive about its plans to implement CEDAW conclusions and recommendations
Yes
Involved in the preparation of national reports to other international or regional mechanisms (Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council on Women, peace and security, the Beijing Platform for action…)
No

Committee powers

The Committee has the power to:
Propose amendments to legislation
No
Introduce bills into Parliament
No
Initiate parliamentary debates on its reports or on subjects of its choosing
Yes
Carry out inquiries
No
Hold oral evidence hearings
Yes
Compel witnesses to attend
Yes
Compel the production of documents and papers
Yes
Make recommendations to the Executive
Yes
Conduct visits, including visits abroad
No
Access places of detention without notice
No

Committee working methods

The Committee:
Adopts an annual or longer-term work plan
No
Publishes reports on its work on the parliamentary website
No
Usually reaches consensus on the issues on which it reports
Yes
Systematically follows up its reports and recommendations
Yes
Reports regularly to Parliament on its activities
Yes
Number of specialised staff to service committee
3

Cooperation and coordination

The Committee regularly cooperates and coordinates (e.g. through sharing of reports; meetings; joint follow-up action) with:
Other parliamentary committees
Sometimes
Civil society organisations
Often
National Human Rights Institution(s) and National Institution(s) for the promotion of gender equality Often called “Commissions” and/or “Ombudspersons” in the area of human rights
Sometimes
Academic institutions, including human rights and gender equality research institutes
Sometimes
The media
Always