BAHRAINI women have a lot to congratulate themselves for ... and even more to look forward to a new era of equality and justice.

Allowing women to vote in the referendum on the National Action Charter is a dream come true for many women.

The move proves Bahrain is moving in the right track, giving women their rights without the need for a struggle, say a group of women interviewed by the GDN.

For Health Ministry health education chief Dr Amal Al Jowder voting in the referendum brought about a feeling which no words could describe.

What is happening is a dream which cannot be described in words. It shows that there is no discrimination between sexes in Bahrain, she said.

Just as I have the right to vote in this referendum, I will have the right to vote and even nominate myself in future developments like the municipal council elections and the Parliament if I choose.

It is good for the country, the elderly, widows, orphans and children, Dr Amal said.

Dr Amal said HH the Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa proved to be a true leader.

It is like a dream come true to see all the sons and daughters, hand in hand, chanting and rallying for a new era, she added.

I am happy that Sitra will have a new secondary school and will benefit from a housing scheme. I am excited that the exiles are free to return home.

The minority who said no to the charter, said Dr Amal, were insane.

Who in his right mind can say no to a charter which will ensure equality and democracy. I am very optimistic about the future and the Amir has taken us great leaps forward overnight, she continued.

He has a complete vision and is doing it step by step and has involved everybody in the process.

Leadership is when you market your idea to everybody and people take it up. This is the difference between a manager and a leader.

Consultant Dr Sabika Al Najjar, who runs a research and studies company, said the referendum on the charter was a very brave decision, which reflected the Amirs wisdom and foresight.

As intellectuals with a democratic vision, we have been calling for such reforms for a long time, she said.

I believe serving the nation is the top priority in our lives and we are ready to serve in any sector to support the steps taken so far.

Allowing women in Bahrain to vote, said Dr Sabika, was an unprecedented move.

The Awal Womens Society founding memeber said she was saddened that a large sector of women did not realise the importance of their political participation in the referendum.

The charter, she continued, ensured women were equal citizens entitled to justice and human rights.

But a woman has to prove herself now that she will be given the chance to get nominated in the up coming Parliament and municipal councils, added Dr Sabika.

National Charter Supreme Committee member Dr Nada Haffadh said there was no doubt that the charter was a positive step to implement political reforms in Bahrain.

It aims to raise the standard of Bahraini families and provide all citizens with a decent living, she said.

In addition to the rights to all citizens, there are special clauses for women and children in particular.

Dr Nada expects new legislation to be passed, including Bahrain adopting the International Labour Organisation convention protection of motherhood.

We have not joined this convention yet eventhough it stipulates the rights of mothers, regulates nursing hours and crches and calls for nurseries to be attached to workplaces for mothers to be close to their new-borns and continue having a career, she said.

While the international convention gives mothers a 14-week maternity break, labour laws in Bahrain give a six-week maternity break.

We dont call for implementing the international convention word by word but hope that joining it will give us the chance to review the conditions of working mothers in Bahrain, added Dr Nada.

She said another convention she hoped Bahrain would join as a direct result of the charter was the elimination of all types of discrimination against women in workplaces.

The charter will also push for personal law, which still doesnt exist in Bahrain, sayd Dr Nada, and which will given women their rights when it comes to issues related to divorce and inheritance.

The charter will also mean that the International child rights convention Bahrain joined in 1992 will be fully activated. One area which Dr Nada hopes will be addressed is child abuse.

There are many other laws but they are not being implemented. We have a lot of laws on paper and putting them into practice will be a challenge which we will have to face, she said. The charter, said Dr Nada, specifically stated the words men and women in its definition of citizens to ensure that treatment was equal.

It also clearly states that men and women have the right to vote and participate in public affairs and did not say just citizens, she said.

Women will also be able to voice their opinion in the upcoming municipal elections at the end of this year, where a woman will not only be able to vote but also get nominated.

University professor Dr Munira Fakhro said she voted yes.

I said Yes not only because I am a woman but because I am a citizen and this charter will be granting me full citizenship, she said.

As a citizen the charter, as well as the constitution, gives me my rights.

Women in Bahrain, said Dr Munira, started going to schools on an equal footing with men during the last century.

When we look at statistics, we see that the percentage of educated women in Bahrain and around the Gulf is more educated than that of men, she said. Two-thirds of students in universities in the Gulf are women.

What we get now is what we deserve because we have proved ourselves in education and work, continued Dr Munira.

For lawyer Jalila Sayed Ahmed, the charter means it is about time to grant women their rights as provided by the constitution.

Unfortunately women were prevented from exercising their rights in the past like in 1973 when people in this country were given the chance to vote for the national assembly, she said.

Ms Ahmed said going to the polls was a new experience for her as a woman and is committed to serve the society better.

It makes me feel responsible because whatever the result of the referendum I will know that my vote counted and that I could make an impact on the political life in Bahrain, she said.

By AMIRA AL HUSSAINI