Manama, May 22 (BNA): The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women, Hala Al-Ansari, said that the approval of the two-chamber National Assembly to cancel Article (353) of the Penal Code is consistent with the recommendations. It was issued by the Supreme Council for Women in 2015, based on Sharia principles that regulate marital relations and affirm freedom of will and consent between the two parties.
She emphasized that the abolition of Article (353) of the Penal Code is in line with the provisions of the Family Law (Article 24 and Article 27), which require the consent of both parties, noting that the step taken by the legislative authority would exempt the affected woman from any pressure that might push her to accept the fait accompli in case of assault.
Al-Ansari stressed that the abolition of the aforementioned article will contribute to raising the levels of protection for women and enhancing family and social security and stability.
She praised the Bahraini Women’s Union and civil society institutions for supporting the abolition of the article and raising awareness of its importance, noting that the decision will ensure the stability of criminal justice and protect the rights of individuals and society alike.
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Women indicated that deleting the clause from the Penal Code will support the Kingdom’s national efforts in combating violence against women.
She added that this will reflect positively on the Kingdom’s efforts to fulfill its international obligations with regard to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
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