MLSD Minister meets the new board of directors of the Gulf Society of Sociologists
17-01-2020
His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, met with the new Board of Directors of the Gulf Society for Social Sociologists, headed by Mr Khalaf Ahmed Khalaf, in the presence of the Chairman of the Bahraini Sociological Society, Mr Hamid Mohsen, and members of both boards. The delegation presented His Excellency with a copy of the Unified Gulf Code of Ethics for Social Practitioners, approved at the dialogue session organised by the two societies in September last year under the Minister’s patronage. The Gulf Society for Social Sociologists and the Bahraini Sociological Society comprise a group of pioneers in social work in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Both societies study and follow up on social issues and challenges, work to raise community awareness in the Kingdom and GCC states, and mobilise researchers and social workers to examine Gulf societies, monitor emerging phenomena, propose appropriate solutions, and convey an accurate picture to decision‑makers to support sound policy and societal progress. On this occasion, His Excellency praised the Unified Gulf Code of Ethics for Social Practitioners—encompassing counsellors, researchers, and specialists working in entities engaged in social work across the governmental, non-governmental, and private sectors—for its rigorous approach to embedding core ethical and professional values and enhancing practice. He emphasised the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders in social work to strengthen community partnership between the governmental and non‑governmental sectors, build necessary capacities, and equip social workers with professional skills through specialised training and qualification programmes. His Excellency further affirmed his support for disseminating the Unified Gulf Code of Ethics as an official document across GCC countries to achieve its intended objectives. He underscored the need to complement these efforts by discussing mechanisms to implement additional controls, standards, legislation and regulations that ensure ethical and legal compliance in the practice of social professions, and noted the role of scientific research in addressing social needs amid accelerating economic and digital developments. For their part, Mr Khalaf and Mr Mohsen thanked the Ministry of Labour and Social Development for its support for the work of the two societies, confirmed their continued efforts to raise issues that reflect social realities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC, and to propose ideas that advance social work by identifying community needs. They also appreciated His Excellency’s efforts to strengthen the social partnership between civil society organisations and the Ministry in a manner that ensures service to society as envisaged.