Kuwait: Women seek more judicial empowerment

Kuwaiti women representatives on Wednesday called for more judicial empowerment pursuant to the policy of their involvement in national development next to male peers.

The call was made by participants in the women's conference "Reality and Future," which wound up in Kuwait on Tuesday evening.

In its recommendations, the conference affirmed an opinion that women's judicial rights do not run counter to Islam, and that women proved themselves as judges in several Arab countries, including Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Yemen.

It recommended balanced representation for men and women in all apparatuses as long as they are equally efficient, urging mass media to favorably deal with such women rights in a bid to rectify misconceptions and misunderstanding on women issues.

Women should be entitled to the right of formulating and devising public policies so that they could become active in decision-making in all legislative and executive agencies.

A culture of about-turn and awareness is needed, legal illiteracy should be obliterated, and a cultural and knowledge atmosphere must be created for supporting women, the conferees said.

The conferees also called for setting up a shelter center for women who suffer domestic violence.

Professor of literature and criticism at the Kuwait University Dr. Seham Al-Fraih opined that comprehensive development cannot be achieved unless women are involved in the process.

She called for setting legal frameworks for protecting and safeguarding women and children's rights and for establishing rehabilitation centers for women and children who are victims of violence.

The Kuwaiti professor made the call during the final session of the conference, which touched upon political Islam and violence against women.

Writer Dr. Fatima Al-Ali addressed the session on women's experience in culture and literature, along with obstacles and barriers denying them access to the world of thought and culture, including political despotism, misconceptions, and more.

A congenial atmosphere ought to be provided for creating a generation of well-educated women intellectuals through efforts by cultural institutions and centers and by mass media, she said.

For his part, member of the National Assembly Saleh Al-Mulla called for distinguishing between Islam as a religion and political Islam as political thought advocated by some people.

He believed that political Islam challenged women's dignity and rights, slimmed their political role, and even failed to adopt plans targeting support for women.

The meeting, which kicked off earlier on Monday, was held under the aegis of First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

By Kawthar Al-Ghanim (With photos) KUWAIT, Oct 29 (KUNA)