GOK UPS ANTE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS; REQUESTS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002041

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN KDEM KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: GOK UPS ANTE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS; REQUESTS IMMEDIATE
VOTE ON NATIONAL-LEVEL RIGHTS

REF: A. KUWAIT 1947

B. KUWAIT 1907

C. KUWAIT 1901

D. KUWAIT 1863


1. (U) The GOK surprised many during the May 16 session of
the National Assembly in what was expected to be a re-vote on
the proposed measure to grant women political rights at the
Municipal Council level. Bypassing any discussion on
municipal-level rights for women, the GOK introduced a
motion, which passed 37-21, requiring the five-member
parliamentary Interior and Defense Affairs Committee to
report within one hour on the Government's proposal,
submitted in March, calling for full political rights for
Kuwaiti women. Another motion submitted by a broad-based
group of MPs was introduced and passed requiring the
Committee to consider permitting law enforcement and military
personnel the right to vote and lowering the voting age to

18.


2. (U) The five member committee approved, by a vote of 3-2,
the draft law granting women full political rights and also
agreed by a vote of 4-1 to postpone the other two proposals.
It was decided later in the session that three MPs would
speak in favor of granting national political rights and
three would speak in opposition to the measure, after which,
a vote would be held on the proposed law.


3. (SBU) The session is currently ongoing and Post will
provide an update with the results of the vote.

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LEBARON