KUWAIT CITY, 17 May 2004 — Kuwait’s Cabinet yesterday gave a boost to continuing efforts by liberal lawmakers to allow women to vote and run for Parliament with a proposal to amend the elections law.
A Cabinet statement said the amendment has been approved and referred to the emir, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who will forward it to Parliament, which must approve any changes to the 1962 law.
Exactly five years ago, the emir decreed women could vote and run for Parliament, but the legislature overruled him because his decision was made when Parliament was dissolved and some considered it unconstitutional. The house has the right to overturn decrees made in its absence.
Conservative and tribal lawmakers a week later defeated a women’s rights bill proposed by liberals. They believe it is indecent for women to mingle with men during election campaigns, and a woman’s job should be at home taking care of her family.
Kuwaiti women are allowed to drive and can travel abroad without the consent of a male relative. There are Kuwaiti women in the diplomatic corps.
This time, it is believed that the Cabinet will push pro-government lawmakers to vote for the law, which lost by a narrow 32-30 margin in 1999.
“We will win, not with a landslide, but with enough votes,” said activist Rola Dashti.
