PARLIAMENT GIVES NOD TO WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001600

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARPI - BERNS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KWMN KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT GIVES NOD TO WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL; STATUS OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE UNCLEAR

REF: KUWAIT 1401


1. The National Assembly gave preliminary approval April 19
to a municipality law amendment giving Kuwaiti women the
right to run for, vote in, and be appointed to the Municipal
Council. The measure passed 26 to 20 with three abstentions.
A second round of voting is expected to take place in two
weeks, followed by promulgation by the Amir. (Note:
Normally, legislation requires a majority vote of two-thirds
for passage. For some cases, Parliament can require a
special majority and procedures. Post is examining the
conditions set for this particular amendment. End note.)


2. The Municipal Council meets weekly to address
neighborhood issues such as streets, schools, zoning, and
other technical issues. The 16-member body, which falls
under the authority of the Deputy Premier and Minister of
State for Cabinet and National Assembly Affairs, has no
budget or contracting authority. There was no action on
proposed legislation to extend universal suffrage to women
for National Assembly elections.


3. Comment: Whether Parliament's actions regarding
Municipal Council elections would have a positive or negative
impact on the fate of the GOK proposal to grant women full
voting and office-holding rights remains undetermined. Some
long-time activists are concerned that granting this partial
right would lead undecided MPs to lose the sense of urgency
about full political participation for women and opponents to
further stall decisive action on the GOK legislation.
LEBARON