Bahrain has officially launched a new society, 'The Bahrain Foundation for Reconciliation and Civil Discourse (BFRCD), aimed at helping bridge the sectarian divide in the Kingdom.

The foundation, which enjoys the full support of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of Bahrain, has been registered by the Ministry of Social Development.

It had been formed this year to facilitate the exchange of ideas and values across all segments of Bahrain’s communities to promote reconciliation and social unity, said a senior BFRCD official at the launch ceremony held at the Kempinski Grand Hotel.

Speaking at the event, founder and chairman of the BFRCD board of trustees, Suhail Ghazi Algosaibi, said that the time was right for such an initiative to foster and promote open discussion between all members of society regardless of age, race, gender or sect.

 “Our mission of social cohesion and harmony, backed by a solid foundation, highest level of support and clear milestones and objectives has already resonated with Bahrain’s community,” he remarked.

The organisation, he said, takes a long term view towards helping society, looking beyond the current situation, and is bi-partisan and non-political in nature.

BFRCD has plans to host public conferences and social events including lectures that will facilitate the exchange of ideas and values across all segments of society.

In addition, comprehensive social media campaigns will highlight the many areas in which all Bahrain society agrees, while initiating and mediating dialogue to stimulate understanding and tolerance in areas of disagreement.

'Plans for these events will be announced shortly, and developments taking place within the BFRCD will be regularly announced through traditional and web-based media, including the society’s new website www.bfrcd.bh to ensure the highest level of participation and attendance,' said Algosaibi.

'The organisation's logo shows that Bahrain has a multi-cultural yet tolerant nature, where people of different backgrounds live together, and we are all striving to a better more harmonious Bahrain,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service