Why is the right to nationality an important issue for women in Bahrain?
This is one form of discrimination women face in Bahrain, and we consider it critical because we see the extent of suffering it causes for women and their children. The children are born in Bahrain, their families and friends are all Bahraini, yet they cannot enjoy the security and belonging because they are not fully accepted and don’t have political rights. They are considered foreigners. Many of the women married to non-nationals are divorced or widowed and are alone and without income, and on top of that their children are not considered Bahrainis by law. How did the Bahrain Women’s Society start working on the issue of nationality? During one of my visits to Beirut, CRTD-A invited the Bahrain Women’s Society to participate in a regional meeting and join the campaign. The idea was welcomed at once because I thought it would allow us to address one aspect of discrimination against women. We joined the campaign in November 2004, but we really started our action in May 2005. What acti
