Bahrain's pioneering strides in providing modern education for women since the 1920s were hailed on the Kingdom's National Day on Tuesday.

"The establishment of modern education for women was a unique and historic turning point which had no parallel in the region," His Majesty King Hamad said in his National Day address at the headquarters of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), also marking the Accession Day and Bahraini Woman's Day.

Present were Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

"Bahraini women are trailblazers, showing the path of achievement to their sisters in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula," he said.

The King described the achievement as a defining moment for women to learn, contribute to nation-building and rear new generations.

His Majesty hailed the decision of the SCW to celebrate Bahraini Woman's Day. "The National Day and Bahraini Woman's Day are twins in the same fabric," he said.

That long-dated march, he said, has yielded a generation of brilliant Bahraini women holding key positions as ministers, ambassadors, MPs, judges, barristers, engineers, teachers, nurses and administrators.

He also hailed women's voting rights as another milestone for modern Bahrain. "The efforts to anchor the culture of human rights in Bahrain date back to the establishment of the first girls' school eight decades ago," His Majesty said.

He urged a national consensus to approve the draft family code, which, he said, "epitomises our common national will".

"Bahrain can't be left behind as other Islamic countries, from different doctrines and jurisprudence schools, have already approved similar laws," he said.

"Such a law would reflect Islam's radiant teachings and promote the type of social order advocated by religions," he said.

He also described the draft law as a step in the right direction to empower Muslim women and further anchor human rights and reflect the country's deep commitment to values and principles.

"All eyes will be turned to the National Assembly to debate the draft law and undertake the necessary decisions," he said.

His Majesty bestowed the Shaikh Isa First Class Order on SCW chairwoman Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

His Majesty yesterday received a cable of congratulations from Shaikha Sabeeka marking the National and Accession Days.-TradeArabia News Service