Bahrain Women Union met with the Bahrain Women’s Association for Human Development and Hamad Town Women’s Association.

As part of the Internal Relations Committee’s plan at Bahrain Women Union, a meeting was held with representatives of the Bahrain Women’s Association for Human Development and Hamad Town Women’s Association, attended by members of the Union’s Board of Directors and a number of women’s association members. The meeting aimed to strengthen direct communication and identify the key challenges and needs facing women’s associations.

Key Discussion Points:

• Declining Active Membership: The meeting addressed the decline in the number of active members in women’s associations and emphasized the importance of attracting young women, encouraging them to join, and promoting their active participation in voluntary women’s work.

• Administrative and Regulatory Challenges: Participants discussed several organizational and administrative obstacles, particularly certain laws and decisions issued by the Bahraini Ministry of Social Development relating to the work of associations, and the challenges these may pose to their operations and continuity.

• Financial Challenges: The meeting highlighted the financial difficulties facing associations due to limited resources and insufficient support, in addition to the requirement to maintain an independent premises to obtain a licence, which places a financial burden on some associations.

• Sharing Premises: The need to approach the Ministry to explore the possibility of allowing more than one association to share the same premises was raised, as this could help reduce financial burdens and support the continuity of their work.

• Joint Programmes and Activities: A proposal was presented to organize joint programmes and activities among associations to diversify sources of support and help address financial challenges.

The President of the Bahrain Women’s Union welcomed this proposal and affirmed the Union’s commitment to supporting associations facing difficulties and assisting them to the extent possible, thereby strengthening their community role and ensuring the sustainability of their contributions.

The Bahrain Women’s Association for Human Development also presented its “Warmth of Home” (Dafae Al-Bait) Project, outlining its objectives and areas of focus. Women’s associations were invited to participate in and support the initiative to broaden its social and humanitarian impact.