The Shura Council held its meeting this morning under the Chairmanship of First Deputy Chairman of the Council hon. Jamal Mohammed Fakhro.

The Shura ratified the minutes of the previous meeting, before the Council reciting a statement on the occasion of International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women, stressing keenness to the continued support for Bahrain woman to eliminate all forms of violence against women, praising the backing granted to Bahrain women by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in various walks of life.

The Council also recited another statement on the occasion of Solidarity Day with Palestinians, in which the Council reiterated its support and backing to all Palestinians to gain back their occupied lands, and to have their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Later, the Council took a final opinion on a draft law amending Article 214 of the Penal Law issued via decree by law no. 15 of 1976, (prepared in light of the bill proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives).

The Council was notified about the messages that came from the Chairman of the Council of Representatives regarding a number of draft laws.

The Council discussed and adhered to its previous decision concerning the second supplementary report of the Services Committee relating to the decree by law no. (50) of 2010, amending some provisions of the law of social and cultural associations and clubs, and private bodies working in the field of youth and sports and private institutions, issued via the decree by law no. (21) for 1989.

After a detailed discussions and deliberations by members of the Shura Council, the Council agreed to disapprove the report of the Services Committee on a draft law increasing pensioners and their beneficiaries subject to the provisions of law no. (13) for 1975, on the organization of pension and retirement benefits for government employees (prepared in light of the bill proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives).

The Council also disapproved the report of the Services Committee on a draft law increasing pensioners and their beneficiaries subject to the provisions of the law regulating the pensions and retirement benefits for officers and members of the Bahrain Defense Force and Public Security issued via the decree by law no. 11 of 1976 (prepared in light of the bill proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives).

The Council also disapproved the report of the Services Committee on the draft law increasing pensioners and their beneficiaries subject to the provisions of the Social Insurance Law issued via decree by law no. 24 of 1976, (prepared in light of the bill proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives).

Finally, the Council reviewed the report of the Inter-Parliamentary delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the participation in the regional seminar on the development of the relationship between the citizen and the Parliament in the Arab region, held in Rabat - Morocco, during the period 5 - 6 June 2013, and the report of the Inter-Parliamentary delegation of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the participation in the 13th Conference of the African-Arab Parliamentary Dialogue, held in Rabat - Morocco, during the period from 26-27 June 2013