SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT CELEBRATES NEW RIGHTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002212 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/PI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KWMN KDEM PREL KMPI KU WOMEN POLITICAL RIGHTS SUBJECT: SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT CELEBRATES NEW RIGHTS REF: A. KUWAIT 2171 ¶B. KUWAIT 2064 ¶C. KUWAIT 0944 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On May 22, Kuwait's Women's Cultural and Social Society held an official reception to celebrate the May 16 passage of the law allowing women to vote and run for office. The event, held at the Society's headquarters and hosted by its President, activist Shaykha Al Nisif, featured the most diverse group of guests in terms of gender and profession assembled in recent memory. Over 300 guests, including more than a dozen current and former MPs and Cabinet Ministers, as well as prominent female educators, lawyers, businesswomen, heads of NGOs, shaykhas, and diplomats, (the Ambassador attended with several Embassy staffers) met to celebrate the long-awaited success of the suffrage bill. Women in haute couture dresses, designer jeans, and Jimmy Choo shoes mixed, mingled, and congratulated women in black abayas and hijabs, a few so covered that their eyes were barely visible. The mood was jubilant and the talk was full of speculation on who would run for office and their chances of winning a seat in 2007, and discussions about who would be the first female Minister appointed. As a sign of the important role the Society played in the 43-year struggle to attain women's rights, the Prime Minister sent his congratulations in a message read to the assembled group. END SUMMARY. WHO'S WHO -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Most of the guests were long-time rights activists in their 40s and 50s and women outnumbered men three to one. Among the guests were Dr. Rasha Al Sabah, UnderSecretary of Higher Education, internationally known activist and head of the Kuwait Economic Forum Dr. Rola Dashti; Dr. Farida Al-Habib, head of cardiology at Kuwait Armed Forces Hospital; Dr. Badria Al-Awadi, human rights lawyer and head of an environmental NGO; and poet and economist (and royal family member) Souad Al Sabah. Rumors circulated that Dr. Al-Habib would soon be tapped for Minister of Health, a post currently vacant, and Dr. Badria would be appointed a judgeship. There was talk of Dr. Rasha also being given a Cabinet position, and many believed her to be the front runner for the first assignment. (Note: Al-Sabah Cabinet members are historically insulated from harsh criticism and parliamentary grilling. Dr. Rasha's appointment could be used to get Parliament accustomed to a female presence without the inherent danger of attack by those who opposed the vote, (see ref A). End Note.) MIXING COVERED AND UNCOVERED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Also present were some of the seven veiled women who had refused to leave Parliament during the March 7 session when the Speaker cleared the gallery (ref C). One told Poloff that she had waited her whole life for this and she would vote as soon as the new law allowed. A mother of three daughters, she spoke of her hopes that her progeny would be more involved in politics but said she understood they were busy pursuing careers and raising children. She thanked the Embassy for its support and involvement on the issue and hoped women's rights would be accepted by society, not just by the law. She was joined by a couple of dozen abaya- and hijab-covered women who mixed easily with the less covered members of the crowd. ¶4. (SBU) The reception was notable for the unusual ease with which the sexes mixed in a public forum. Couples who normally attend events separately, came together and stayed together. Male guests took photos with the female guests and conversations between the two sides were a common sight; an uncommon event in Kuwait. Although most women were unveiled, with heads uncovered, a significant portion came with headscarf but complemented it with a fashionable outfit and visible makeup. Almost all the men came in dishdasha. NEXT AHEAD: REQUESTS FOR MORE U.S. TRAINING -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The reception gave Kuwaiti women and men the opportunity to discuss challenges facing them in the future. Several women who already announced their candidacy for the 2007 parliamentary elections spoke of the effort required for fundraising and campaigning. One, Aisha Al-Reshaid, said she would soon launch her "mixed" diwaniya, one where women could openly mingle and discuss political topics with men, something not currently available on the diwaniya circuit (ref A). A number praised their exposure to American female experts and activists through IV programs and thanked Embassy staff present for their training while asking if more was readily available. Reception organizers attributed the large turnout to the mass media training some of the women received from a MEPI-funded NDI program on women's political participation. The Society sent faxes, e-mails, text messages, and telephoned invitees to assure the high turnout. Finally, many of the women gave thanks to the Ambassador, stating it was largely through U.S. efforts that the bill came to pass. The event got prominent coverage in May 23 papers, including numerous shots of the Ambassador with groups of activists. ********************************************* 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