In addition to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there are numerous Bahraini and multinational groups, including the Bahrain Red Crescent Society and the Children's and Mothers' Welfare Society. Youth organizations include those representing the Youth Hostel Federation, Red Crescent Youth, Boys and Girl Scouts, and Arab Student Aid International (ASAI). The Bahrain Olympic Committee coordinates activities for about 12 national youth sports federations.
Bahrain - Media
Modern telephone, cable, and telex systems are available; mainline telephones numbered 152,400 in 1997. The same year, there were about 58,543 cellular phones in use nationwide.
In 1998, there were 2 AM and 3 FM stations and 4 broadcast television stations. All of which were owned and operated by the government. In 1997 there were 499 radios and 420 television sets in use per 1,000 population. Internet service is provided through the national phone company, with 105,000 subscribers counted in 2001. Government control restricts access to some sites considered with content that is considered anti-Islamic or anti-government.
Bahrain's first daily newspaper in Arabic, Akhbar al-Khalij (circulation 17,000 in 2002), began publication in 1976, and the first English daily, the Gulf Daily News (50,000), was established in 1991. Al Ayam, an Arabic daily founded in 1989, had a 2002 circulation of 37,000.
Though the Bahraini Constitution has provisions for freedom of expression, press criticism of the ruling family or government policy is strictly prohibited.
Bahrain - Education
Bahrain introduced a free public education system to the Gulf region in 1919. The government aims to provide free educational opportunities for all children. Education was only recently made compulsory. As of 1999, public expenditure on education was estimated at 3.7% of GDP.For the year 2000, adult illiteracy rates were estimated at 12.4% (males, 9.0%; females, 17.3%). Bahrain has the highest female literacy rate in the Arabian Gulf. As of 1999, the female share of primary enrollment was estimated at 48.7%. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. School education is in three stages: primary lasts for six years, intermediate for three years, and secondary—general, industrial, or commercial—for three years. Primary and secondary curricula includes a nine-year course in Religious Study. Nearly 100% of primary-school-age children attend school, while 85% attend secondary school. In 1997 primary schools enrolled 72,876 students. Also in 1997 secondary schools enrolled 57,184 students, taught by approximately 3,200 teachers.
Bahrain's principal university is the University of Bahrain, established in 1986 after a merger between the University College and Gulf Polytechnic. It is comprised of five colleges and an English language center: colleges of arts, sciences, engineering, education, and business administration. The Arabian Gulf University (founded in 1980) has faculties in science, engineering and medicine, and is in fact a joint venture project among the six Gulf Cooperation Council members and Iraq. Each nation is allocated 10% of the seats (total 70%) and the remaining 30% are given to other countries. Also important is the Bahrain Training Institute, which currently has over 50% female students.
There are also 67 adult education centers in Bahrain, which have helped to reduce the illiteracy rate of the country. For promoting technical education, a "10,000 Training Plan" was launched in 1980. Nearly 6,500 students have participated in this program since its inception and scholarships are given to students to pursue higher studies at Bahrain or abroad. In 1994 all institutions of higher learning had 655 teachers and enrolled 7,147 students.
Bahrain's principal university is the University of Bahrain, established in 1986 after a merger between the University College and Gulf Polytechnic. It is comprised of five colleges and an English language center: colleges of arts, sciences, engineering, education, and business administration. The Arabian Gulf University (founded in 1980) has faculties in science, engineering and medicine, and is in fact a joint venture project among the six Gulf Cooperation Council members and Iraq. Each nation is allocated 10% of the seats (total 70%) and the remaining 30% are given to other countries. Also important is the Bahrain Training Institute, which currently has over 50% female students.
There are also 67 adult education centers in Bahrain, which have helped to reduce the illiteracy rate of the country. For promoting technical education, a "10,000 Training Plan" was launched in 1980. Nearly 6,500 students have participated in this program since its inception and scholarships are given to students to pursue higher studies at Bahrain or abroad. In 1994 all institutions of higher learning had 655 teachers and enrolled 7,147 students.
Bahrain - Housing
According to the 2001 government census, there were 105,686 housing units within the country. About 18% were private villas (single family, independent structure homes). There were 8,076 apartment buildings containing a total of about 36,320 flats. About 72% of all units were connected to the public water system. About 14.8% of homes used relied on bottled water. About 63,374 units were occupied by single (nuclear) families. The greatest number of housing units (32,538) were available in Manama.
Bahrain - Health
In 1960, Bahrain inaugurated a free national health service, available to both foreign and indigenous segments of the population through a system of primary care health centers and modern hospital facilities. Bahraini patients who require sophisticated surgery or treatment are sent abroad at government expense.
Medical services are provided by the government and a small private sector. Health care centers are accessible to the population free of charge. In 1990, there were 4 government-operated hospitals (including a psychiatric hospital and a geriatric hospital), 5 maternity hospitals, 19 health centers, 6 environment health centers, and 16 maternity and child welfare centers. In 1991, Bahrain had 668 physicians, 123 pharmacists, and 66 dentists. In 1997, there were an estimated 1 physician, 2.8 nurses, 0.09 dentists, and 0.2 pharmacists per 1,000 people. The effects of the Gulf War have endangered the health of many of Bahrain's people. Acute asthmatic attacks increased during the years after the war (1991–1993).
Infant mortality was 14.8 per 1,000 live births in 1999. The 1999 birth rate was 21.9 per 1,000 people and the general mortality rate was 3.2 per 1,000 people. In 1994, 93% of the country's one-year-old children were vaccinated against measles. In 1990, 100% of the population had access to health care services and 93% had access to safe drinking water. Life expectancy in 1994 was 71 years. In Bahrain, there were 28 new cases of AIDS in 1996. Malaria was reported in 258 people while polio, measles, and neonatal tetanus were non-existent.
Bahrain - Social development
Impoverished families receive subsistence allowances from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Free child guidance clinics—the first in the Gulf—and expanded benefit and pension provisions for government employees were introduced in 1975. A social security fund provides old age, disability, survivor, and accident insurance. Contributions amount to 5% of earnings by workers and 7% by employers. For accident insurance, the insured pays nothing and the employer contributes 3% of payroll. Work injury insurance exempts domestic servants, self-employed and agricultural workers.
Islamic law, either Shi'a or Sunni, dictates the legal rights of Bahraini women. Women may initiate divorce proceedings, own and inherit property, and represent themselves in legal matters. However, men retain legal rights over children, even in case of divorce. Custody of young children is granted to women, but fathers automatically regain custody when the children reach the age of 9 (for daughters) and 7 (for sons). Unlike other fundamentalist nations, women are permitted to work, drive cars, and wear Western-style clothing. Women make up over 20% of the labor force, and their employment is encouraged by the government. However, the majority of working women are young and single, and most women cease working outside the home after marriage. Bahrain's labor law does not recognize the concept of equal pay for equal work. Spousal abuse is common and women rarely seek assistance from authorities.
A small group of Shi'a originally of Iranian origin have been refused full citizenship under the Citizenship Act of 1963. These residents are second or third generation residents of Bahrain, but are unable to obtain a passport and are prohibited from owning land.
Bahrain's government regularly violates citizens' human rights. There was a continuation of torture, arbitrary arrest, denial of the right to a fair trial, and restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and workers' rights.
Bahrain - Foreign investment
While continuing to encourage foreign investment, the government has acquired majority holdings in most of the country's principal enterprises that were formerly foreign held. The government offers substantial incentives for companies wishing to establish plants in Bahrain. With the exception of petroleum royalties, Bahrain does not tax either corporate or individual earnings.
As of 1999, the Bahraini government had no vehicle for reporting statistics on foreign investment. Some of the larger foreign-owned or controlled companies in 1999 included the following: Aluminum Bahrain and the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Complex, both joint investments controlled by several Gulf states; the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard, owned by several Gulf states; and the Bahrain Telecommunications Company, 20%-owned by Cable and Wireless. There were at least 90 US companies operating in Bahrain in 1999, including Kimberly-Clark, Coca-Cola, Shaw Industries, and DHL.
