At the inauguration of the "Family Protection" workshop on the occasion of Bahraini Women's Day and Arab Family Day.. Humaidan praises the launch of the Supreme Council for Women of the Unified Framew

29-11-2019

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Labour and Social Development, Mr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, the Ministry inaugurated the Family‑Protection Training Workshop at the Bahrain Retirees Association on Thursday. The event brought together more than 100 officials, researchers, and specialists in family counselling and child protection from ministries, public institutions, civil society organisations, and centres affiliated with the Ministry. Organised to coincide with Bahraini Women’s Day and Arab Family Day, the workshop aims to strengthen national efforts to address contemporary social and family challenges; build participant capabilities to align with legal and regulatory frameworks governing social work; and exchange local and Arab experiences to enhance shelter and social‑care services and develop family‑related legislation. In his opening remarks, Humaidan emphasised that addressing family issues and domestic violence is a sensitive national priority requiring sustained attention from social workers and practitioners. He underscored the need to lift service quality by diagnosing realities on the ground and expanding cooperation to deepen evidence‑based psychological and counselling interventions suited to the complexities of modern life. On this occasion, the Minister commended the Supreme Council for Women, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, may God protect her, on launching the unified framework for counseling services and family awareness-enhancing. He affirmed that the initiative will unify efforts to reinforce family cohesion as a gateway to societal stability, calling on all stakeholders to align action within this framework to protect families, children, and society as a whole. He further confirmed the full support of the wise government within the Kingdom’s comprehensive development process. During the ceremony, Mrs Sadeem Al Mir, Head of the Family Guidance Group, delivered an address on behalf of the Social Welfare Department outlining the Ministry’s role—and that of the Family Guidance Group—in family and child protection and counselling. Ms Thajba Al Mansouri, a member of the Al Hekma Retired Society, highlighted the enduring role of Bahraini women in nation‑building and development from past to present. The training programme comprised two sessions: the first, delivered by Senior Family Counselling Specialist Hana Al Fardan, on core skills for addressing family problems, using divorce and separation as a case example; and the second on effective technical skills for handling children’s issues, particularly in situations of divorce or separation.