The Role Woman in Kuwait

Since the ratification of Kuwait's democratic constitution in 1962, Kuwaiti women have been denied the right to vote or run for
political office. Now, more than 45 years after the start of Kuwaiti democracy (1961), there has been a serious movement pushing
for women's suffrage. On May 16, 2005, the Kuwaiti Parliament voted 35-23 with one abstention and passed a bill which gave
women their right to vote and run for public office. The bill was approved and immediately became a law. The first women member
of cabinet was elected on June, 2005 as Minister of Planning (Dr. Maasouma Al-Mubarak) followed by the second woman to
become Member of Parliament as Minister of Education (Nouriya Al-Subeeh) in 2007.

In 2006 the first elections took place where women voters were allowed to cast their ballots and run for a seat as Member of
Parliament.  Although no women candidates were successful that year, it was still embraced and fully supported by a majority of
Kuwait’s citizens and will always be remembered as a proud moment in history for Kuwait and a momentous endeavour for Kuwaiti
women.

In many respects Kuwait is one of the most advanced in the Gulf and has prided itself on being a standard setter among the Arab
countries.  However, when it came to Women’s Rights it trailed behind the rest.  Consequently, the victory of the struggle for
women’s rights in Kuwait is indeed a great achievement and one that gives hope to both Kuwaitis and to the people of the region.
But the work to promote women’s rights does not end with winning the right to vote. The next step is to take an active role in
deciding the country’s future, by electing women as members of parliament.

On May 17, 2009 despite failed attempts in previous elections, four women won parliamentary seats (Dr. Maasouma Al-Mubarak,
Dr. Rola Dashti, Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi, Dr. Salwa Al-Jassar) the winners all of whom were University graduates and two were
American-educated. This was an unprecedented and historic moment for women’s rights in the world to have four female members
of parliament elected all at once. This was a strong message from the people for a call to change.

The role of Kuwaiti women dates as far back as the early 60’s. However during first Gulf War (1990), many women risked their lives
and many others lost theirs (Martyr Ms. Asrar Al-Qabandi, Lead a group of Kuwaiti Resistance) to liberate Kuwait from an unjust
and cruel occupation thus proving themselves as active members of the society.  Not only have they played a significant role in
liberating Kuwait, they have also proven active in all professional fields. In 1994, the Kuwaiti Diplomatic Corp appointed its first
female Ambassador (H.E. Nabila Al-Mulla) to the Republic of Zimbabwe. She is currently our Kuwaiti Ambassador to Belgium. Since
then many other female Diplomats followed in her footsteps and are currently serving in Kuwaiti Embassies all around the world.
Society views on women in public office have also evolved with the first married female diplomat posted to Canberra, Australia in
2007.   

Kuwaiti women make up 70% of university students and 40% represent the Kuwaiti workforce. They are present in all professional
fields including Education, Medicine, Business, Journalism, Banking and the Government Sectors.

Since, 1994 the position of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education   established in 1988, has been occupied by a
prominent and highly qualified Kuwaiti woman who’s also a member of the Ruling family (Sheikha Dr. Rasha Al-Sabah). She was
featured in the International Who’s who of Women 2002 edition. The first Arab woman to be appointed as Rector of an Arab
University (Kuwait University) in 1993 is a distinguished scholar and an accomplished scientist (Prof. Fayza Al-Khorafi). And in
2003 another female academic was appointed as Rector to lead and manage the Arab Open University, and then went on to be
appointed as Minister of Housing and Development Affairs (2008) and is currently Minister of Education and Higher Studies (2009)
(Dr. Modhi Al-Hamoud).    

They have also enjoyed tremendous success in the private sector with many Kuwaiti women CEO’s and Heads of companies
managing billons of dollars. For two consecutive years 2006-2007, the Chairperson and Managing Director, of Global Investment
House (Mrs. Maha Al-Ghunaim) has been chosen as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World by the international
financial magazine Forbes. She has been ranked due to her impressive leadership, vision, and great economic impact. She is a
fine example of women’s success in Kuwait. Furthermore, within the Media sector, Kuwait has the first female editor-in-chief
(Journalist Ms. Bibi Al-Marzouq) of a thriving daily Kuwaiti newspaper named “Al-Anbaa”.    

Kuwait witnessed the first graduation ceremony of the first batch of female cadets of the Institute of the Saad Al-Abdullah Academy
for Security Science on March 25, 2009.  

Even though the public sector is trailing the private, under the guidance of the Amir H.H. Sh. Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
and the Prime Minister H.H. Sh. Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah the gap is closing and the future of women in public office is
becoming more apparent and will be more visible to the world in the near future