Women's rights in Kuwait

Kuwait Times, Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Nouriya Al-Othman

Human rights are a significant feature for a country to embrace. Many countries have been struggling to achieve women's rights, but not all of them have succeeded. Only recently have women in Muslim countries gained the right to vote. For example, Egyptian women were only enfranchised in 1956, Jordanian women in 1974, and finally Kuwaiti women won the right the vote in 2005.
Women in Kuwait have long been a source of strength in the community, even before this was officially recognised by the government. Although Kuwaiti women have been gaining momentum in society only slowly, their evolution has been an impressive validation of their intelligence and strength. Although Kuwait is considered a developed country, Kuwaiti women have yet to claim their place in political society.
"The late ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah, issued a royal decree in June 1999, stating that women should be allowed to vote and run for office in the next election', and yet Kuwaiti women have only recently been given the right to vote after years of struggle.
"The granting of political rights to women marked a turning point in the country, and it has been greeted with mixed reactions here. Many activists and women's rights supporters were elected [to municipal posts]. Muna Al-Fuzai, a local Kuwaiti columnist, says she "finally feels like a full human being."
It is through education that Kuwaiti women are being recognised. There is a very high percentage of Kuwaiti women at university and many more are being educated abroad. The percentage of women in universities is higher than men: hence many Kuwaiti women are being offered scholarships without any discrimination.
With a higher level of education, women have the essential tools to compete with men in the work environment. Kuwaiti women are involved in every field. For example, we have skilled doctors, businesswomen, lawyers, engineers, and women who own land, as well as large, well-known companies. They have proved they are able to participate and challenge men in every field.
Furthermore, educated women have demonstrated that they are more than capable in the political sphere. "At conferences, the Western educated women tend to take a prominent role in discussion of issues, and in some of the leadership positions at the event". The only thing we are missing is our political rights, voting, and representing in our country.
With the power of knowledge women today are stepping up to the challenge in every aspect of Kuwaiti society. The new law helped Kuwaiti women activists to participate. Jenan Boushehri and Khaledah Al-Khader are two of the female candidates who are setting up their campaigns and starting to face the challenges.
Khader spoke at her campaign in a victorious tone, telling reporters and supporters that the elections showed the country and the world the capabilities of local women. "This is the first time Kuwaiti women can show the men that we are capable. It is important that we do our best and leave the outcome of the poll to God"
In addition Rola Dashti, the president of the Kuwaiti Economist Association and a political activist, stated that the day Kuwaiti women got their rights was the day "that we as women felt freedom and defeated ignorance. I believe that today is a historic day for Kuwaiti women. Today we have achieved a victory, a victory for freedom. We have won the battle between freedom and ignorance, terrorism against development, and now Kuwaiti women will have a say in parliament," she says.
Even if some of these women are not elected, they have taken the first step. Their efforts to represent Kuwaiti women put them on the right track for the future. - Al-Qabas