The royal call to overcome challenges hampering Bahrain's National Dialogue sessions was backed yesterday.

Chaired by Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the weekly Cabinet welcomed His Majesty King Hamad's directives to end the talks stalemate, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The session also backed his call to explore necessary solutions which would pave the way for a wide-ranging national consensus.

In a statement yesterday, the Cabinet backed the meeting between His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, with parties which have a stake in the dialogue.

It urged a serious engagement in the dialogue, full commitment to transparency and positive participation, stressing the need to build on what has been achieved so far.

The statement urged commitment to national fundamentals, calling for an unequivocal renunciation of violence and openness by other parties.

The ministers also approved full rollout of a United Nations convention that protects women's rights despite opposition from MPs who claimed it could have "dangerous repercussions" for society.

The Cabinet decided to lift reservations that were included when the country acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2002. - TradeArabia News Service