Regional and international recognition for HRH Princess Sabeeka Global Award for Women Empowerment – OANANews

Global Award for Women Empowerment Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Strategic Context

A briefing event in Doha, organized by Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women (SCW) in partnership with UN Women, highlighted the significant contributions of the HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women Empowerment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Held on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, the event garnered broad international recognition for the award’s role in advancing key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Direct Contributions to SDG 5: Gender Equality

The award is structured to directly support the achievement of SDG 5 by encouraging global action on gender equality. Its primary mechanisms include:

1. Encouraging public, private, and civil society institutions to adopt and implement principles of equal opportunity and gender balance.
2. Promoting and showcasing successful initiatives that strengthen women’s participation in social, economic, and political life.
3. Advancing women’s roles in decision-making processes at all levels.
4. Establishing a global platform for sharing best practices, thereby accelerating progress towards gender equality targets worldwide.

Impact on Broader Sustainable Development Goals

Participants and officials noted the award’s cross-cutting impact on multiple SDGs beyond its primary focus on gender equality. The initiative’s contributions are integral to a holistic approach to sustainable development.

• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The award recognizes and supports initiatives that foster women’s economic empowerment, a critical component for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, specifically commended its role in this area.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By championing inclusion and opportunity, the award directly addresses systemic inequalities. The First Lady of Pakistan, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, described it as a “symbol of inclusion, equality, and opportunity.”
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The award promotes the development of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions by incentivizing policies that support women’s empowerment and representation.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The award itself is a model of a global partnership, being a joint initiative between the SCW of Bahrain and UN Women. It fosters collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society to achieve common development objectives.

International Recognition and Endorsements

The award received commendations from a diverse range of international stakeholders who affirmed its alignment with global development priorities.

• Moez Doraid, UN Women Regional Director: Stated that the award strengthens global efforts in women’s empowerment across development, environmental, and economic spheres, reinforcing the integrated nature of the SDGs.
• Dr. Maimoonah Khalil Al Khalil, Secretary General of the Family Affairs Council of Saudi Arabia: Lauded the award’s role in promoting women’s leadership and capacity-building, which are essential for achieving sustainable development.
• Nasser bin Bakar Al Qahtani, CEO of AGFUND: Commended the initiative as a reflection of Bahrain’s pioneering national commitment to empowering women and contributing to global goals.
• Ira Menichini, BPW Indonesia: Expressed interest in applying, noting the award’s potential to advance grassroots work supporting vulnerable populations, such as migrant workers, thereby contributing to the “leave no one behind” principle of the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses on the “HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Global Award for Women Empowerment,” which directly aims to “promote gender equality,” “advance women’s empowerment,” and encourage the adoption of “equal-opportunity principles and gender balance.” The entire initiative is centered on achieving equality for women in various spheres of life.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects women’s empowerment to economic progress. It highlights that the award showcases initiatives that “strengthen women’s social and economic participation” and supports “economic empowerment for women.” This aligns with SDG 8’s goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and productive employment for all.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article demonstrates the importance of collaboration. The award itself is a partnership between Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Women (SCW) and UN Women. The briefing event involved officials from various countries (GCC states, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria) and organizations (AGFUND, BPW Indonesia), showcasing a multi-stakeholder partnership to advance a common sustainable development objective.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

  The article directly references this target by stating the award has “significantly advanced Bahraini women’s participation in decision-making, political life, economic activity, and social development.” It also mentions the award’s role in “promoting women’s leadership… and representation internationally.”

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

  This target is relevant as the award encourages initiatives that “strengthen women’s social and economic participation” and supports “economic empowerment for women.” By recognizing and promoting best practices, the award contributes to creating an environment for full and productive employment for women.

• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge…

  The award is described as a “global platform for best practices within sustainable development efforts.” The partnership between the SCW and UN Women, involving an “independent international jury” and participants from multiple nations and sectors, exemplifies a global, multi-stakeholder partnership designed to share knowledge and promote women’s empowerment.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 5.5: Proportion of women in leadership and decision-making roles.

  The article explicitly states that the national version of the award contributed to “Bahrain’s strong performance in international indicators” related to women’s participation in decision-making and political life. This implies that metrics tracking the proportion of women in such roles are being used to measure success.

• Implied Indicator for Target 8.5: Rate of women’s participation in economic activity.

  The focus on strengthening “women’s social and economic participation” and “economic empowerment” suggests that an increase in the number or percentage of women active in the economy is a key measure of the award’s impact.

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.16: Number and scope of multi-stakeholder partnerships and initiatives.

  The article implies this through its description of the award as a “global platform” that has received “broad regional and international recognition.” The number of institutions from the public, private, and civil society sectors applying for the award, as well as the geographic reach (e.g., “extends broadly including across non-Arabic-speaking countries”), can serve as indicators of the partnership’s effectiveness and reach.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oananews.org