KUWAITI WOMEN MOVE TOWARD NEW POLITICAL RIGHTS;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001633 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KWMN PHUM KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS SUBJECT: KUWAITI WOMEN MOVE TOWARD NEW POLITICAL RIGHTS; SOME FEAR FIRST STEP MAY BE LAST FOR THIS YEAR REF: A. KUWAIT 1600 ¶B. KUWAIT 1404 Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Summary: Kuwaiti women moved one step closer toward gaining political rights April 19 as Parliament voted to allow women to vote in elections for and run for Municipal Council (ref A). The amendment to the Municipality Law granting women these new political rights is scheduled to face another vote on May 2 before it can go to the Amir for final approval. While the bill is expected to pass the second vote, the high number of opposing votes on April 19 may be fodder for plans to derail granting women full political rights. End summary. Second Round Voting Scheduled, Elections to be Delayed -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The National Assembly approved a first-round vote to amend the Municipality Law to permit women to vote in Municipal Council elections and hold a Council seat, either through election or appointment by the Amir. A second round vote is scheduled for May 2. A second bill, delaying Municipal elections until October, won approval as well. The postponement is designed to allow time for women to register to vote and campaign should they decide to run. Voting registers are normally open only in February, but the bill stipulates the preparation of a list of eligible women voters within three months of the legislation's passage. Doing the Math -------------- ¶3. (U) A closer look at the April 19 vote reveals a greater number of MPs opposed the Municipality amendment than supported it. The measure received 26 votes in favor and 20 against. Of the 'yes' votes, Council Ministers represented 14 while MPs the remaining 12. All of the 20 dissenters, however, were MPs. An additional three MPs were expected to vote in favor but abstained (Hussein Al-Qallaf, Saleh Ashour and Salah Khorshed, all Shi'a.) Another 12 MPs were not present for the vote, most of whom, it is reported, oppose women's political rights. Justice Minister Ahmad Al-Baqer, a Salafi Islamist, refused to attend the vote due to his opposition to extending political rights to women; however, he had not publicly opposed women's participation at the Municipal level in the past. Like in the first round of voting, the amendment will require a simple majority of the votes cast to pass, provided a quorum of the 64 Assembly members. The amendment is expected to pass the second round. High Number of 'No' Votes Ammunition for Rights Opponents -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Women's rights activist Dr. Moudi Al-Humoud told poloff April 20 that Parliament Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, who opposes granting full political rights to women, may use the large number of MPs opposing the Municipality Law amendment (20 against versus 12 in favor) as justification to halt the progress of a bill to grant women the right to participate on the parliamentary level (ref B). (Note: Al-Khorafi voted against women's rights in the past but told the Ambassador he was now in favor of extending suffrage. End note.) According to Al-Humoud, Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with whom she and other activists met three weeks ago, is still committed to women's suffrage, but he listens to Al-Khorafi more than to any other Kuwaiti politician. Al-Khorafi, who fears support for women's full political rights will result in his defeat in next year's elections, may dissuade the PM from pushing women's political rights legislation for a vote this parliamentary session, scheduled to end in June. The draft legislation is still with the Assembly's Interior and Defense Committee, which is due to issue a report on the topic. Municipal Council Participation a Positive First Step? -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) Al-Humoud declared that yesterday's vote was a "turning point for women, no doubt about it." Dr. Rola Dashti, head of the Kuwait Economic Society and an outspoken women's activist, told an English-language daily that the vote was "a major gain for Kuwait and democracy." She added, "We were worried that women may not be able to participate in municipality elections." Energy Minister Ahmad Fahd Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah spoke of the vote breaking a psychological barrier and being the first step toward women's full political participation. One activist, however, Naima Al-Shayeji, feared that the April 19 vote would result in a loss of momentum for the granting of full political rights for women. She asked, "Why do Kuwaiti women have to get their rights in doses?" ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON