HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2005: QUOTE FROM KUWAIT ON THE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004718 SIPDIS DRL/SEA FOR PSAWCHYN, NEA/ARPI FOR BERNS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KPAO PGOV ODIP APER KU SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2005: QUOTE FROM KUWAIT ON THE MEANING OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM REF: SECSTATE 202764 In response to reftel, Post is pleased to submit a quote summarizing the sentiment of Kuwaiti women in the final months of the 40-year struggle for women's suffrage. Leading up to the historic May 16 National Assembly vote that granted Kuwaiti women full political rights, women and men alike rallied outside their parliament building holding banners, chanting slogans and wearing blue t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "half a democracy is not democracy" in bold white letters. The Secretary, who monitored the suffrage movement closely, even repeated the Kuwaiti mantra during her welcome remarks at DRL's Human Rights and Democracy Officer conference in September. Referencing this quote while commemorating Human Rights Day would recognize the efforts of homegrown movements demanding greater democracy and freedom in the Middle East. ********************************************* 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