US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2212

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'S 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. 
 
 
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LEBARON