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Internal Regulations for Organizing the Work of the Bahraini Women's Union Article 1 - General Provisions The purpose of issuing these regulations is to complement the basic system in organizing the administration of the Union's affairs and providing the necessary details stipulated in some articles of the basic system. A series of amendments to the previous internal regulations of the Union were approved at the General Assembly meeting on October 22, 2016. Based on this approval, the Board of Directors of the Bahraini Women's Union was granted the right to make the necessary amendments. The Board approved these amendments at its session on January 2, 2021, adding certain clauses to the regulations based on feedback from 2017. They were subsequently ratified following approval by the members of the General Assembly. In case of any conflict between the provisions of the internal regulations and the basic system of the Union, the provisions of the basic system shall prevail. No changes may be made to the texts of the internal regulations without the approval of the General Assembly of the Union. In these regulations, unless the context requires otherwise: The Union refers to the Bahraini Women's Union. The Board of Directors refers to the Board of Directors of the Union. Board Members refer to the members elected at the General Assembly meeting of the Union. The General Assembly of the Union refers to the total representatives of ten members from each women's association that is a member of the Union, selected or elected by their associations to represent them at the conference held by the Union at the end of the election cycle and at any ordinary or extraordinary meeting called for by the Board of Directors of the Union. Member Associations refer to women's associations that are members of the Union listed in Article (2) of the basic system of the Union, as well as any women's association that joins the Union in the future. The basic system refers to the basic system of the Union, declared under Decision No. (29) of 2006 issued by the Ministry of Social Development, published in Official Gazette No. (2750) of the Kingdom of Bahrain issued on August 2, 2006. The system includes any amendments or additions adopted in the future by the General Assembly. Committees refer to the specialized committees of the Union formed by the Board of Directors. Internal Regulations refer to the internal regulations for organizing the Union's affairs. Relative Majority means half of the attendees plus one. Absolute Majority means half of the total number of members, whether present or absent, plus one. Conference Office is an office whose members are elected from within the conference held at the end of the election cycle for the Board of Directors of the Union. It consists of a President, First Secretary, and Second Secretary; its task is centered on supervising and organizing the debate process and overseeing the election process of a new Board of Directors for the Union, preparing a report thereof to be handed over to the elected President of the Board. Article 2 - Board of Directors Decisions at Board of Directors meetings are taken by an absolute majority as stipulated in the basic system. Any member may dissent from a decision and record it in the official minutes, but she must abide by the majority decision and act accordingly. A Board member must maintain confidentiality of decisions even if she disagrees with them, and refrain from disclosing any information related to the Union's affairs unless specifically authorized by the Board of Directors. A Board member must not show bias towards any association to which she belongs and must avoid anything that may create division within the Board. After the election of a new Board of Directors for the Union, former Board members must be invited to the first meeting to hand over all Union files or related documents, which should be recorded in the meeting minutes and signed by both parties. No former Board member has the right to retain any file or document related to the Union. The Board of Directors may establish an advisory committee in legal or other relevant fields closely related to the Union's mandates (Article 2 of Article 41 of the basic system), and may select some committee members from outside the Union, whether male or female. The Board of Directors may also consult with the presidents of the affiliated associations under its umbrella on any matter brought before it. In case of a tie in votes within the Board of Directors when voting for or against a motion, the President's vote shall prevail. The names of those who approve, oppose, or abstain from the decision shall be recorded in the minutes. The Board of Directors of the Union, with a majority vote, may request membership in regional or international organizations or federations whose objectives align with those of the Union and its aspirations. Article 3 - Union Correspondence All correspondence issued by the Union within the country or abroad, or by committees, must bear the signature of the President of the Union or her deputy and the Union's stamp. No electronic messages may be sent in the name of the Union without the knowledge of the President, her deputy, or the Secretary. No member association of the Union may correspond with any entity inside or outside Bahrain in the name of the Union. The Union's Secretary shall receive incoming correspondence, register and number it, and promptly deliver it to the President and the Secretary. Copies of outgoing and incoming electronic correspondence of the Union must be kept in a special register, with the Secretary's signature, and electronic data of the Union must be preserved securely with multiple backups. Electronic messages may be temporarily sent to the Union's email or any other email specified by the Board of Directors, with the knowledge of the Secretary. The Board of Directors is not responsible for any correspondence conducted by members, committee chairs, or others unless the aforementioned conditions are met. All Union files shall be stored in another location. (Back up) Article 4 - Media Responsibility The President of the Union and the member responsible for media affairs may exclusively disclose decisions of the Board of Directors or its work plans and programs to the media. The Board of Directors may appoint one of its members to speak on behalf of the Union in various media programs that address any general issue or specific occasion, such as International Women's Day, for example. The chairperson of a committee and its members may speak to the media about the committee's activities in general or during specific events, with the knowledge of the Union's President. Article 5 - Member Associations in the Union Decisions issued by the Board of Directors of the Union must be respected by member associations. Member associations must work to strengthen the Union and avoid actions that could weaken it. The objectives of each member association of the Union must align with the objectives of the Union as stated in its basic system. The Board of Directors of the Union must establish means of communication with member associations, whether through printed or electronic correspondence, social media, email, visits, or holding regular meetings with the presidents of the associations. The Board of Directors may invite the presidents of member associations to an emergency meeting as required. Each member association of the Union may invite the President of the Union to attend its General Assembly meeting, and the President of the Union or her delegate appointed by the Board of Directors may participate in this meeting. Upon receiving any invitation or message in the name of the Union, the member association must deliver it to the Board of Directors, and it is not allowed to respond to it or accept the invitation in the name of the Union. No member association of the Union may correspond with any entity inside or outside Bahrain in the name of the Union unless authorized by the Board of Directors of the Union. Each member association of the Union has the right to propose suggestions to the Board of Directors or coordinate with it to organize a program or more in collaboration with the Union. It is the duty of member associations to express their opinion on matters requested by the Board of Directors of the Union. The Board of Directors of a member association of the Union may submit a written request and send it to the President of the Union to hold a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Union. In this case, the Board of Directors of the Union may attend the meeting with all its members or some of them, and the members of the Board of Directors of the association may not continue to attend the meeting after discussing the purpose for which they attended in order to follow up on the proceedings of the conference. Article 6 Board Meetings and Member Responsibilities 1. The Federation's Board of Directors holds regular meetings at a rate of one meeting per month, and extraordinary meetings may be held in urgent or necessary cases. 2. A Board member is committed to attending Board meetings, fulfilling responsibilities, and activating committees. 3. In case a Board member is absent from attending meetings, the following actions are taken: o If the member is absent from three consecutive or five separate meetings without excuse, her constituency is informed by an official letter signed by the Federation's President. o If the member continues to be absent after notification, totaling five consecutive or seven separate meetings, her membership is automatically terminated. She and her constituency are notified by an official letter signed by the Federation's President. 4. In the event of resignation from the Board membership, an official letter must be submitted through the member's representing association, informed of her circumstances. The resignation must be officially discussed by the Board to understand the reasons for resignation, evaluate the situation, grant a two-week period for reconsideration and withdrawal of resignation if desired. If resignation is not withdrawn within the specified period, it is automatically accepted, and her constituency is informed by an official letter detailing all developments and actions taken. 5. In the event of the Chairperson's absence for any reason or excuse, the Vice Chairperson replaces her and carries out all duties performed by the Chairperson. 6. The Secretary-General is responsible for coordinating the preparation of outgoing correspondence with the Union's secretary, preparing minutes of Board meetings, reviewing them, and writing the literary report of the Union for presentation at the General Assembly meeting. Article 7 Committees 1. At the beginning of the election cycle, the Board of Directors sends a letter to member associations inviting their ten representatives to join active committees of the Federation. 2. The Federation's Board of Directors may establish temporary committees tasked with specific missions determined and monitored by the Board, concluding upon completion of the task for which they were formed. These committees may include individuals from non-female associations of both genders. 3. The number of members for each committee should not exceed 7 members. 4. Board members may join one or more working committees, and may also serve as committee chairs. 5. The committee elects a Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General from among its members in its first meeting. 6. Committees are directly responsible to the Board of Directors. 7. Committees meet at least once a month to monitor and implement their plans. 8. A committee meeting is considered legal with the absolute majority of its members present. 9. Committee decisions are valid by simple majority. 10. The Federation's President or a designated Board member may attend committee meetings and review its minutes whenever necessary. 11. Committees meet at the Federation's headquarters. If not possible, the committee chairperson may agree with its members to determine another location, or committees may meet virtually. 12. Committees maintain a record of their minutes and activities at the Federation's headquarters, either in written or electronic form. 13. Committees prepare their action plans and present them to the Board of Directors for approval in light of the Federation's strategic plan, ensuring the implementation of tasks assigned by the Board and incorporating these plans into the Federation's general plan. 14. Any working committee may seek the assistance of a qualified and experienced individual for consultation on any matter, either by meeting directly, by phone, or through messages. 15. Two or more committees of the Federation may hold joint meetings for coordination and cooperation between them. 16. Each committee, after its formation, is committed to preparing a long-term action plan for implementation during the election cycle, after presenting it to the Board of Directors. 17. In case a committee member is absent from attending meetings, the following actions are taken: o If the member is absent from three consecutive meetings or five separate meetings without excuse, an official letter is directed to her, signed by the Federation's President, inquiring about her willingness to continue on the committee with a commitment to attend meetings. o If the member does not respond to the letter and continues to be absent, totaling five consecutive or seven separate meetings, her membership in the committee is automatically revoked. She and her constituency are notified in writing. Article 8 General Assembly Meeting 1. Each member association under the Federation appoints ten members to represent it in the Federation's General Assembly, three months before the end of the election cycle. 2. The Federation's President or her substitute opens the regular General Assembly meeting held after the end of the election cycle and calls for the formation of a bureau to manage the meeting. The President also manages any other meeting, whether regular or extraordinary, held during the election cycle. 3. The agenda is approved by a relative majority of the attending members by raising hands. Subsequently, the items on the agenda are discussed and approved in sequence unless otherwise decided by a majority of the attending General Assembly. 4. Voting on decisions, except for the election of Board members, is done by raising hands unless otherwise decided by the General Assembly. 5. If no candidates apply for Board membership more than the required number, they win by acclamation. 6. If more candidates apply for Board membership than required, elections are conducted by secret ballot. Article 9 Nomination for Board Membership 1. The Board of Directors formally notifies member associations of the Federation about opening the nomination for Board membership at least two months before the end of the Board's term. The nomination remains open until two weeks before the election date, during which nominations are not allowed after this date or during General Assembly sessions. 2. The General Assembly officially informs the Board of Directors of the nominee's name for the new Board, and it is not permissible for any member to nominate except through her association. 3. Those nominated by the association for Board membership must have been a member of the association for a period of no less than two years, recognized for her activity, commitment, and effectiveness, with administrative experience in women's or family work, and must be among the ten representatives of her association. 4. After closing the nomination period, the Secretary-General informs member associations in writing of the names of the nominees and the associations to which they belong. 5. The General Assembly has the right to substitute its nominee with another within a period of no less than two weeks before the election date, by formally writing to the Board of Directors, who in turn officially informs the member associations of this. 6. Each member association of the Federation has the right to nominate a maximum of two members for the Federation's Board of Directors. Article 10 Elections of the Union's Board of Directors 1. The Board of Directors shall invite the relevant ministry to appoint one of its employees to oversee the regular meeting where the election of a new Board of Directors for the Union will be conducted, at least two weeks before the meeting. 2. The absence of a representative from the ministry does not affect the validity of the elections. 3. The President of the Union shall invite the General Assembly at the beginning of the meeting to nominate members of a bureau to oversee the conduct, discussions, and monitoring of the election of the new Board of Directors. 4. The bureau shall consist of three members, provided that none of them are members of the outgoing Board of Directors or candidates for the new Board. The election of the bureau begins with the election of a chairperson, followed by a first secretary and a second secretary. The bureau's duties end upon the conclusion of the elections, the counting of votes, signing the meeting minutes, and handing them over to the new Board of Directors. 5. The Board of Directors may invite any association not a member of the Union that it deems competent to supervise the elections. 6. In the case of secret ballot for the election of the Union's Board of Directors, any ballot paper containing more candidates than required or that has been altered and rewritten is excluded to ensure the credibility of the results. 7. Verification of the identity of candidates is done through an official document such as the national ID card or passport. Article 11 Membership in International Organizations • Clause 1 The Union has the right to join regional and international organizations according to the following criteria: • The objectives of the organization align with the Union's objectives. • The organization supports issues endorsed by the Union and contributes to their global dissemination. • It is not prohibited for organizations to join. • Membership in the organization adds moral value and strength to the Union. • The organization is active and effective in social work and advocates for women's rights at regional and international levels. • The organization adopts qualitative issues that have a positive impact on the local community. • Membership fees in the organization are not exorbitant and burdensome to the Union's budget. • Clause 2 Upon joining any regional or international organization, the Union commits to the following: • Payment of membership fees determined by the organization. • Ethical and moral commitment to the organization's statements, communications, and resolutions that do not contradict the values and objectives of the Union or the laws of the country. • Responding to invitations addressed to the Union to the best of its ability. • Providing the organization with all updates related to the files endorsed by the Union. • Solidarity with the organization's issues that do not contradict the Union's objectives, values, or the laws of the country. • Disseminating the organization's news across the Union's database. Article 12 Representation in Domestic and International Events • Clause 1 To organize work and achieve optimal results, the following organization and mechanism are followed upon receipt of invitations by the Union: • The Union's secretary receives the invitation and delivers it to the President of the Union or her delegate. • The President presents the invitation to the Board of Directors' group on WhatsApp for review and suggests the appropriate member to represent the Union, whether from the Board of Directors or one of the working committees in the Union. • Clause 2 External invitations are directed as follows depending on the type of invitation: • Invitations related to meetings where decisions are made must be represented by the President or her delegate. • Invitations to participate and attend conferences, exhibitions, symposiums, or seminars are represented by members of the specialized committees working in the same field, women's associations, or individuals with expertise collaborating with the Union from outside women's associations. • Invitations to participate in training courses or workshops must be directed to the relevant committees and members of the Union's Board of Directors. • Clause 3 Criteria to be met by those nominated for external representation: 1. If the nominee is a member of the Union's Board of Directors or committees, she must: • Be an active and engaged member of the Board of Directors or the relevant committee in the field. • Possess proficiency in the language used at the event (English or Arabic). • Be capable of making decisions (in anticipation of any developments at the event). 2. If the nominee collaborates with the Union: • Should voluntarily and continuously work with the Union on some files. Things that the candidate must adhere to before, during, and after attending the participation:  Preparation, preparation and good reading before joining the participation.  Commitment to attend throughout the period of participation to which you are invited.  Its participation should be of qualitative addition to the calling body and the Union.  After returning, they must submit a detailed report to the Federation regarding the event.  To convey and share the experience of her presence to the Federation and its Assembly by preparing a summary of what has been put forward, And how can the Union benefit from that participation?  Work on marketing the Federation and introduce its role during participation; and provide the Federation with a list of attendees to be completed Adding it to the ITU data base to achieve more networking at the local, regional and international levels.  External bodies should be contacted directly by the President of the Union

The statute of the Bahraini Women’s Union The first Door General provisions Article (1) Social and cultural associations, clubs, and bodies are established in the Kingdom of Bahrain pursuant to the law Private institutions working in the field of youth and sports and private institutions issued by decree law No. (21) of 1989 amended by Decree Law No. (44) of 2002, a federation called the “Union Bahraini Women's Association", which is a civil society organization of a democratic nature and is considered a qualitative federation of associations. Bahraini women under its banner, and the union has been registered with the Ministry of Social Development Under registration number (1/A T/J.S.). Article (2) The Union was established from the following associations: 1 . Association of the women Renaissance of Bahrain 2 . Child and Maternal Welfare Association 3 . Awal Women's Association 4 . Riffa Cultural Charitable Society 5 . International Women's Association 6 . Fatat Al-Rif Women's Association 7 . Bahraini Women's Association 8 . Bahrain Women's Association 9 . Future Women's Association 10 . Hamad Town Women's Association 11 . Contemporary Women's Association 12 . Bahrain Society for Development woman 3 Article (3) The Union is registered in the records of the Ministry of Social Development in accordance with the provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. (2) for the year 1990 regarding organizing the register of social and cultural associations and clubs subject to supervision The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and his legal personality is confirmed from the date of publishing his registration in Official Gazette. Article (4) The Union's headquarters and main administrative center shall be in the city of Manama, and it may have branch offices in Other cities within the Kingdom. Article (5) The Union includes Bahraini women's associations licensed by the Ministry of Development as members Social. Article (6) Any women's association registered in accordance with the provisions of Decree Law No. (21) of 1989 may It submits an application to the Union to join it after amending its bylaws appropriately And the basic system of the union. Article (7) The application for membership in the union is submitted by any of the women’s associations to the secretary of the union, attached With the following documents: 1 . An application form to join the union certified by the association’s president and stamped by the association. 2 . A copy of the association’s bylaws. 3 . A list of the names of board members and their positions. 4 . A copy of the association’s official announcement letter. 5 . A list of the names of Bahraini female members working in the association. 4 Article (8) The name of the union, the address of its headquarters, its registration number, the scope of its work, and its logo - if any - shall be mentioned in all His books, records and publications. Article (9) The Federation is legally represented by the Chairperson of its Board of Directors or her representative by decision of the Board of Directors. Chapter Two The Union’s objectives and powers Chapter One L The objectives of the Union and its mechanisms Article (10) A- The Union aims, within the limits of the laws in force in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to organize and coordinate activity Its member women’s associations regarding the rights and issues of women, family and society within the framework of Work on: 1 . Promoting Bahraini women and enabling them to participate in the development process. 2 . Spreading awareness of the importance of women’s active participation in political life. 3 . Devoting the spirit of national action in the Union to serve the national values formulated by the Constitution The Kingdom and the National Action Charter to advance women’s associations and community institutions Civil. 4 . Defending the rights of Bahraini women and spreading legal awareness among them. 5 . Striving to abolish all forms of discrimination against women. 6 . Enabling women to participate effectively in the legislative, executive and judicial authorities. 5 7 . Follow up on the implementation of Arab and international agreements related to women. 8 . Protecting the gains obtained by Bahraini women and striving to obtain more Of the rights and gains that achieve full citizenship. 9 . Expressing an opinion on draft laws related to women. 10 . Strengthening relations with Arab and international women’s federations and organizations. 11 . Paying attention to women’s affairs and the environment and increasing their environmental awareness. B - The Federation conducts the necessary studies to provide the necessary funding for women’s associations Its members to develop its resources in a way that helps provide subsidies and assistance and provide advice to it About means of supporting its financial capacity. C - The Union evaluates the services provided by its member women’s associations in light of: The needs of the community, the capabilities of those associations, and their available resources. Article 11: Mechanisms for Achieving the Union's Objectives within the Applicable Laws in the Kingdom of Bahrain: 1. Supporting development projects of member associations in the Union technically and financially. 2. Coordinating with the Supreme Council for Women and all official authorities in the country regarding women's issues and affairs. 3. Organizing and participating in workshops, discussion circles, training courses, and local, regional, and international civil forums regarding women's issues and affairs. 4. Utilizing various media to enhance the role of Bahraini women affiliated with the Union of Women's Associations by adopting and presenting their issues and defending their rights. 5. Establishing programs tailored for various groups of women in Bahrain: workers, elderly women, young women, housewives, etc. 6. Conducting studies and research related to women's and family issues. 7. Continuous coordination and cooperation between the Union and NGOs, Arab and international women's federations. 8. Establishing a specialized database on women's and family-related issues. 9. Implementing training and awareness programs in health, legal, reproductive, environmental, and other fields directed towards women in Bahrain. 10. Publishing a specialized magazine, newsletters, and journals that reflect the voice and aspirations of Bahraini women in accordance with applicable laws. 11. Launching a website on the Internet that represents the voice of the Women's Union. 12. Reviewing all local laws related to women and seeking to amend them in line with international agreements to eliminate all forms of violence against women. Chapter Three: Financial Affairs Article 12: The Board of Directors shall establish a financial regulation that regulates the financial affairs of the Union, particularly the expenditure of Union funds and their deposit, etc. The financial regulation shall not be effective until approved by the General Assembly. Article 13: 1. The financial resources of the Union consist of: a. Annual subscriptions, registration fees, and re-registration fees. b. Donations and unconditional grants after obtaining the approval of the Social Development Ministry. c. Any other resources approved by the Board of Directors that do not conflict with the provisions of the Kingdom's laws, regulations, and rules. Article 14: 1. Each women's association must pay a one-time registration fee to the Union amounting to BD 100 per association. 2. Annual subscriptions shall be paid at BD 200 per association. Article 15: 1. The fiscal year of the Union starts on January 1st of each year and ends on December 31st of the same year, and it includes the first year. 2. Membership dues are due from members during the first three months of each year. 3. Union funds shall be deposited in a national bank selected by the Board of Directors. 4. The Financial Secretary shall retain an amount not exceeding two hundred dinars for incidental expenses, and no amount of Union funds shall be spent except for Union purposes and upon the decision of the Board of Directors. 5. No amount of Union funds shall be withdrawn except by a check signed by the President of the Union with the Financial Secretary or the Vice President in the absence of the President, along with the Financial Secretary, in accordance with the instructions issued by the Board of Directors. 6. The Union's accounts shall be audited by a legal auditor within the first three months following the end of the fiscal year. Article 16: The membership subscription of newly joined member associations to the Union shall be calculated from the date of acceptance of membership. Article 17: The Union may own property and other assets that serve its objectives, and the Union shall not engage in financial speculation. Article 18: The President and members of the Board of Directors shall be responsible, each within their jurisdiction, for the funds of the Union and for any action therein that contravenes the provisions of this regulation and the internal regulations of the Union and the decisions of the General Assembly. Article 19: The Board of Directors shall present the final accounts to the General Assembly for approval, authenticated by all its members. If the expenses or revenues of the Union exceed ten thousand dinars, the Board of Directors shall present the final accounts to an accredited legal auditor accompanied by supporting documents for examination and a report thereon at least one month before the General Assembly meeting. Copies of the final accounts and the General Budget and auditors' reports and the Board of Directors' invitations shall be attached to letters addressed to the members entitled to attend the General Assembly. These documents must also be displayed prominently at the Union's headquarters at least fifteen days before the General Assembly meeting and shall remain so until they are approved. Article 20: The General Assembly shall select the auditor from among those nominated by the Board of Directors and shall determine his remuneration. However, in the first year of the Union, the selection of the auditor shall be by the members at their first meeting in the form of a General Assembly. Article 21: The Union shall not receive any funds from foreign individuals or foreign entities or send anything mentioned to individuals or organizations abroad except with the permission of the Social Development Ministry, except for amounts related to the cost of books, publications, scientific and artistic magazines, or participation fees in international conferences and organizations, if any. Chapter Four: Elections Article 22: The members of the Board of Directors of the Union shall be elected every two years by the Ordinary General Assembly in the presence of a representative of the Social Development Ministry. Article 23: The Board of Directors shall open nominations for elections two months before the end of its term at least. Article 24: No association shall be eligible to nominate or elect until one year has passed since its affiliation with the Union and the payment of annual subscriptions. Article 25: The Ordinary General Assembly shall elect the members of the Board of Directors for all positions through direct secret ballot. Article 26: The Board of Directors shall meet immediately after its election, and the administrative positions shall be distributed at its first meeting. Article 27: No association shall be eligible to nominate or elect unless it has paid its dues at least one month before the election date, provided that those representing it meet all the conditions specified in Article 38 of this regulation. Chapter Five: Union Bodies Article 28: The Union bodies consist of: a. The General Assembly. b. The Board of Directors. Section One: The General Assembly Article 29: The General Assembly is the supreme authority in the Union. Article 30: The General Assembly of the Union consists of all representatives of member associations in the Union, with ten members from each association elected by their General Assembly. Section One: Competences of the General Assembly Article 31: Firstly: The Ordinary General Assembly exercises the following competences: 1. Drawing up the general policy of the Union. 2. Electing the members of the Union's Board of Directors. 3. Discussing the report of the Union's Board of Directors on the Union's activities during the past year. 4. Approving the budget and the final accounts. 5. Any other matters that the Union's Board of Directors deems necessary to include on the agenda of the Ordinary General Assembly. 6. Appointing the auditor of accounts other than the members of the Board of Directors and examining his report on the final accounts of the Union. 7. Approving the estimated budget for the new fiscal year. 8. Approving the financial and administrative regulations of the Union. 9. Approving the plans, projects, and programs proposed by the Board of Directors. 10. Considering the grievances of member associations and resolving disputes arising between them. Secondly: The Extraordinary General Assembly exercises the following competences: 11. Amending the Union's Articles of Association and deciding its dissolution or dismissing members of the Board of Directors. Amendments shall not be effective except after approval by the Ministry and publication in the Official Gazette. 12. Holding some or all members of the Union's Board of Directors accountable or dissolving the Union. 13. Important or urgent matters that the Board of Directors deems necessary to present to the Extraordinary General Assembly. Section Two: Holding the General Assembly Ordinary Meeting of the General Assembly Article 32: The General Assembly shall hold its regular session once a year within the three months following the end of the Union's fiscal year at the headquarters of the Union's main office or any place designated by the Union's Board of Directors. The notice of invitation shall be sent to all members two weeks before the meeting, accompanied by the agenda. The meeting shall not be considered valid unless attended by an absolute majority of its members. If the quorum is not met, the meeting shall be adjourned to another session to be held within a week from the date of the first meeting, and the second meeting shall be valid if attended by a third of the number of General Assembly members. Otherwise, the meeting shall be adjourned to another session to be held within a period not exceeding two weeks, and the meeting shall be valid with the presence of ten percent of the members. If the legal quorum is met, the validity of the resolutions taken shall not be affected by the withdrawal of less than half of the number of attendees at the start of the meeting. Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly Article 33: The General Assembly may hold an extraordinary meeting based on: 1. A request signed by five members of the Union's Board of Directors. 2. A request submitted to the Union's Board of Directors by a number not less than two-thirds of the members entitled to attend the General Assembly. 3. A call from the Social Development Ministry. The purpose of the meeting, matters, and topics for which the General Assembly is convened shall be specified in the invitation. The procedures followed in the extraordinary General Assembly shall be those Article 34 The General Assembly shall issue resolutions by an absolute majority of the members present. However, for the resolution to be valid, a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly members is required regarding amending the union's bylaws, determining its dissolution, or dismissing board members. Chapter Two Formation of the Board of Directors and its Competencies Article 35 The Board of Directors is the executive authority of the union and implements the policies established by the General Assembly and its resolutions to achieve the union's objectives. Article 36 The Board of Directors manages the affairs of the union and is empowered to carry out any work except those requiring prior approval by the General Assembly as per this bylaw. Specifically, the Board is responsible for: 1. Drafting the general framework of the union's policies. 2. Developing plans and programs to achieve the union's objectives. 3. Formulating regulations specific to the union based on its bylaws. 4. Reviewing reports from union committees, assessing their recommendations, and making appropriate resolutions. 5. Preparing the annual budget and final financial statements of the union. 6. Compiling the annual report on the union's activities. 7. Establishing necessary committees to achieve the union's objectives. 8. Appointing necessary staff for the union, determining their bonuses and financial rights, and terminating their services in accordance with the regulations approved by the General Assembly. 9. Forming delegations to represent the union in local, regional, and international conferences. 10. Any other issues proposed by the General Assembly. Article 37 The Board of Directors consists of eleven members elected by the General Assembly from its members for a term of two years, renewable for another term, not exceeding two consecutive terms. They are elected by direct secret ballot, and no association may nominate or elect a board member until one year after joining the union and paying the annual fees. Article 38 Membership in the Board of Directors requires the following: 1. Membership in one of the associations that form the union. 2. Good conduct and behavior. 3. Active involvement in women's work. 4. Payment of fees to the association they belong to at least one month before the elections. 5. One year must have passed since the association's membership in the union. 6. Enjoyment of civil rights. Article 39 Membership in the union ends in the following cases: 1. If the women's association, which is a member of the union, is dissolved. 2. If the association fails to pay its fees within six months after being notified in writing by registered mail. 3. The Board of Directors may reinstate membership if the association is re-registered or established again and has paid its previous dues or obligations. 4. If the General Assembly of the union issues a resolution by a two-thirds majority of its members if the association commits acts that harm the union. 5. A former member whose membership has ended for any reason cannot reclaim fees, gifts, or donations given to the union. 6. Termination of membership by a resolution of the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority of its members in case the member commits an act causing financial or moral damage to the union. Article 40 The Board of Directors consists of twelve members (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and seven administrative members). Board members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. • President: Calls for meetings of the Board and General Assembly, ensures the implementation of Board and General Assembly resolutions, presides over sessions, acts as the union's legal representative to others, co-signs session minutes with the Secretary, signs checks and all financial authorizations with the Treasurer, and decides on urgent matters that cannot be delayed, subject to the Board's review at its first meeting. • Vice President: Assumes the President's responsibilities in their absence, and the Board may delegate her some permanent financial, administrative, or technical responsibilities. • Secretary: Prepares the agenda for Board and General Assembly meetings, records and co-signs meeting minutes with the President, handles all written correspondences, files, records, registers, and contracts. • Treasurer: Manages the union's finances, keeps its accounts, records its revenues and expenditures, deposits its funds in an approved bank, disburses funds based on authorized warrants signed by her and approved by the President, monitors the collection and recording of fees in registers and records, preserves financial documents requiring financial commitment to the union or its right, prepares monthly financial reports for the Board, retains a specified amount for essential reserves not exceeding two hundred dinars, as determined by the union's financial regulations. Article 41 1. The Board of Directors may form subcommittees from among its members or others, determining the number of committee members and their responsibilities. It establishes a system for their operations, with their studies and research findings presented to the Board for reporting and decisions. 2. The Board of Directors may form an advisory body in legal and other relevant areas related to the union's competencies. Article 42 The Board of Directors convenes monthly regularly, with its meetings valid with the presence of the majority of its members. The Board Secretary prepares the agenda and presents it to the Board President for decision on what she deems appropriate, then notifies the members at least one week before the meeting. Article 43 Board resolutions are issued by a majority of the votes of those present. In case of a tie, the side favored by the President prevails. Article 44 The Board of Directors may hold an exceptional meeting upon the President's invitation or upon a request by at least one-third of its members to discuss urgent matters, limited to the agenda items. Article 45 The Ministry of Social Development may request a Board of Directors meeting if deemed necessary. Article 46 The Board of Directors maintains at the union headquarters the following records and registers: 1. Minutes of Board of Directors meetings, signed by the President, Secretary, and all attending members. 2. Records of General Assembly meetings. 3. Registers for recording revenues and expenditures. 4. Bank account ledger. 5. Permanent loan ledger. 6. Subscription ledger. 7. Record for recording perpetual loans, ownerships, or other perpetual commitments owned by the union, each registered in the record with a specialized description, price, date, location, the person in custody, their description, and address. The mentioned record includes any changes affecting their status. Before commencing work on the mentioned records and registers, each page must be numbered sequentially and stamped with the union's seal. All records, registers, and files must comply with legal requirements. Article 47 If one-third of the Board members resign simultaneously or if the remaining number of members for any reason falls below half of the Board members, the matter shall be referred to the General Assembly for an extraordinary meeting to elect a new Board for the remaining term of the previous Board. Article 48 The Ministry of Social Development shall take the necessary measures to convene the General Assembly within one month of the Board's dissolution. Chapter Seven Dissolution of the Union Article 49 The General Assembly may voluntarily dissolve the union under Article 34 if it becomes unable to achieve the objectives for which it was established or if the number of its members from associations becomes such that it cannot continue its activities. Article 50 The General Assembly resolution to dissolve the union shall not take effect until registered in the register prepared for this purpose at the Ministry of Social Development and published in the official gazette. Article 51 Upon dissolution, union members, those managing its administration, and its employees are prohibited from continuing its activities or disposing of its funds upon knowledge of its dissolution. No person shall participate in the union's activities after the dissolution resolution is published in the official gazette. Article 52 The Ministry of Social Development shall appoint a liquidator for the union upon its dissolution for a specified period and a known salary. Article 53 The union's administrators shall, upon request, submit all documents and records to the liquidator. They and the bank holding the union's funds are prohibited from handling any union matters or rights except by written order from the liquidator. Article 54 After completing the liquidation process, the liquidator shall distribute the remaining funds equally among the member associations of the union, under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Development. Chapter Eight Final Provisions Article 55 The General Assembly resolution to amend the union's bylaws shall not take effect until registered in the register prepared for this purpose at the Ministry of Social Development and published in the official gazette. Article 56 In matters not covered by specific provisions of this bylaw, the provisions concerning associations in the first chapter of the Law of Social and Cultural Associations and Clubs and Special Institutions operating in the field of youth, sports, and private institutions issued by Decree No. 21 of 1989 and its amendments shall apply, provided they do not conflict with the nature of the union. This translation aims to capture the essence and details of the Arabic text regarding the organization and governance of the union as outlined in the provided articles.

The Union works to expand its base and frame all efforts for the development and empowerment of women everywhere areas, and establishing a strong women's movement that works to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and create a force Influential in amending and enacting laws to ensure that women enjoy all citizenship rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

A strong and effective women's union that represents women in the Kingdom of Bahrain and contributes to achieving a democratic society Free from discrimination, equality and equal opportunities prevail among all citizens, men and women.

The Bahraini Women's Union is a civil society organization of a democratic nature. It was established with the aim of coordinating and unifying the efforts of women's associations into one strong entity that works to defend women's rights and empower them to assume the position they deserve in society. The union was officially announced on August 2, 2006, and currently includes 10 women's associations under its umbrella.