History of Bahraini Women in Legislative Fields and Municipal Work

Women's participation in public life has grown significantly over time. In 1926, women took part in municipal elections alongside men, with historical records stating that any woman who owned property registered in her name was eligible to vote. By 1951, women were actively involved in the initial Central Municipal Authority elections, making a significant impact across various domains.

In the early seventies, eight women from the Children and Mothers Welfare Society, and Al Nahda Society participated in a referendum to prove the Arab identity of Bahrain, with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in attendance.

Following His Majesty the King's accession in 1999, four women were appointed to the first Shura Council in 2000.

Bahraini women played a prominent role in the Supreme National Committee tasked with drafting the National Action Charter, which had 46 members, including six women. On February 24, 2001, His Majesty the King issued Decree No. (6) for the year 2001 establishing the Committee to Draft the National Action Charter (PDF, 2 pages, 52KB, Arabic only) which included 16 members, two of whom were women.

In 2001, Bahraini women achieved a significant milestone when legislative changes under the National Action Charter granted them full political rights. This encompassed constitutional amendments in 2002 that granted women the right to vote and run as candidates in parliamentary and municipal elections.

In 2018, Fawzia Zainal was elected as the first women speaker of the council of representatives. At that time, six women were among the forty members of parliament.

In the 2022 elections, ten women were elected to the Council of Representatives and Municipal Council, with several members maintaining their seats. This result demonstrates Bahraini voters' trust in the ability of women to effectively advocate for their interests in these councils.