RECOGNITION OF POLITICAL RIGHTS OF KUWAITI WOMEN

Senator Páez at the National Assembly of Koweït

After a good deal of effort, in May the National Assembly of Kuwait finally granted women the right to vote and stand for election. During his official visit to Kuwait shortly after the adoption of this measure, IPU President Sergio Páez paid tribute to the parliamentarians who adopted this measure and to the women who had waged a long campaign for political rights. One month after the measure was adopted, the Kuwaiti Government named the country's first woman minister.

The lot of Kuwaiti women is changing. Their political rights were not recognized for dozens of years, despite the fact that they played a very important role in society, with many women active in the country's diplomatic life and in its economy. That era has now passed, and there is no doubt that this major step will have an important impact on Kuwaiti society. Mathematically speaking, more women than men will be eligible to vote in the next legislative elections, scheduled for 2007.

Despite their enthusiasm, the members of the Board of the Women's Cultural and Social Society, the oldest women's group in Kuwait, are perfectly aware of the fact that the real battle has only just begun. While previously decisions about women's political participation depended on the views of men, now it is for Kuwaiti women to convince the whole of society that the time has come to elect women as representatives to the National Assembly. Kuwaiti women take pride in being the best educated women in the Arab world. They know that now they can make a difference. One of the members of the Board explained, "I have two daughters. The elder, who has just finished her university studies, wants to run in the 2007 elections. We will not necessarily vote for women, though; we will choose the person who is best prepared." In her view, Kuwaiti women will not vote for token candidates; they will seek the most capable people and vote for them in the 2007 elections. They are conscious of the fact that the traditional segment of Kuwaiti society is extremely capable of mobilizing forces and getting out the vote.

Can the Kuwaiti situation have an impact on other Gulf States such as Saudi Arabia, where women are still not allowed to vote and stand for election? "Of course", says Mr. Abdul Rahman H. Al'attiyah, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf Cooperation Council). "In the other Gulf States, women have assumed their rights, or they will soon do so; this will not be difficult now that Kuwaiti women have secured their rights. We look forward to it happening soon." The dialogue promoted by the IPU to support partnership between men and women in politics must continue in all regions of the world. In terms of women's participation, the Arab world is changing slowly but surely. After his visit to Kuwait, the IPU President went on to Bahrain, where Her Highness Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al- Khalifa, the wife of the King and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Women, officially requested the IPU's support in promoting women's political participation.

L.B.

see also : "Kuwait grants women the right to vote and stand in elections and appoints a woman Minister" with an interview of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait Mr. Jassem Mohammad Al-Khurafi