Kuwait: Women get little support to participate in political arena

Kuwait City: Kuwait's Cabinet has not yet shown sincerity in endorsing Kuwaiti women's participation in the political arena, several female political activists believe.

Speaking to Gulf News about the recently issued document of Inter-Parliamentary Union which ranked Kuwait among states with the lowest percentage of female representation in parliament, Chairperson of the Women Empowerment Centre in Kuwait Dr Salwa Al Jassar said that Kuwaiti women still have a long way to go to claim their political rights and women are not getting enough support from legislative and executive authorities.

According to statistics of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Kuwait's rank is among the lowest worldwide with regards to the percentage of women in ministerial positions at 6.7 per cent, and in parliament at 1.5 per cent.

"Kuwaiti women still lack conviction and belief in their ability to hold high ranking political posts. Furthermore, a limited fraction of Kuwaiti men are willing to support women to take up the challenge," she said.

She asserted that the majority of Kuwaiti women are highly educated and well-off and may surpass women of other GCC states in this regard.


"However, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Planning in 2007, only 64 leadership posts are held by women, while men occupy 417 of these positions. Ironically, it is noted that a distinguished fraction of the men holding such posts might have fewer skills than women," she said.


She explained that Kuwaiti women still have fears of participating as candidates or voters in parliamentary elections 'making them vulnerable to exploitation from various sides'.
Restrictions


Jassar added that even non-governmental associations and societies restrict female participation on their board of directors to one member only.


"Women should at least make up 30 per cent of these societies' management, according to internationally approved statistics," she said.


Sincere support of women's political contribution in Kuwait must include raising awareness among Kuwaiti men to change prevailing fears, Jassar strongly believes.

However, other women activists in Kuwait expressed different opinions.


Lawyer and women rights activist Hind Bin Al Shaikh told Gulf News "it is too soon to evaluate women's participation in the political arena of Kuwait," as it was only in 2004, when women were given the right to vote and run for positions.

"However, we have to admit that the Kuwaiti culture is not helpful ... being in favour of men, traditions and common beliefs will require a lot of time and immense effort to change. The possibility of this change is also in doubt," she added.

At the same time, Hind added that the government has not provided women with any support. "Since the day women got their political rights, the Kuwaiti Cabinet has barely done what it could to avoid criticism. Out of 15 cabinet members, only one female minister was appointed.

Ever since women were granted their political rights in 2004 upon the request of the state's emir, two female ministers have been appointed.


-- By Laila Ali, Special to Gulf News