House Resolution Commends Kuwaiti Women’s Political Rights

On July 11, 2005 the US House of Representatives passed a resolution commending Kuwait for recently enhancing women’s right to vote and run for office in elections. H.Res. 343 passed the House of Representatives with 420 Members of Congress voting in support of the resolution and none against it.
Earlier on May 17, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomed the Kuwaiti parliament’s historic vote allowing women the right to vote and to run for political office. A majority of the currently all-male Parliament passed the law after a marathon nine-hour session with 35 voting in favor, 23 against, and one abstention. Kuwaiti women will be able to fully participate in the 2007 parliamentary elections. Kuwait’s ruler Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Sabah issued a decree in 1999 giving women full political rights, but the measure had been stuck in parliament. https://www.adc.org/index.php?id=2503
The text of the resolution follows:
Commending the State of Kuwait for granting women certain important political rights. (Introduced in House)
HRES 343 IH
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 343
Commending the State of Kuwait for granting women certain important political rights.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 27, 2005
Mr. CROWLEY (for himself, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. HIGGINS, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs. KELLY, Ms. LEE, Mrs. MALONEY, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. PITTS, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. ACKERMAN, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Ms. WATSON, Mr. ISSA, and Ms. WATERS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations


RESOLUTION
Commending the State of Kuwait for granting women certain important political rights.
Whereas on May 16, 2005, the Parliament of the State of Kuwait amended Article 1 of the Election Law 35 of 1962, providing female citizens of Kuwait the right to vote and run in the 2007 elections;
Whereas the rights of women are of paramount importance in international human rights, to be respected and promoted regardless of historical, cultural, or religious heritage;
Whereas the active advancement of women’s rights throughout the world is and remains an important policy priority of the United States; and
Whereas the Department of State recognizes that the Kuwaiti parliamentary vote of May 16, 2005, was an important step forward for the women of Kuwait and the nation as a whole, and the United States views this step as a positive development on the road to political reform, serving as a positive example for other governments and societies in the region that are on the path to political freedom, inclusion of women, and full democratization: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That House of Representatives–
(1) commends the Government and Parliament of the State of Kuwait for providing female citizens of Kuwait the right to vote and hold public office;
(2) urges the full participation of Kuwaiti women in the political life of their country; and
(3) encourages the Government of Kuwait to continue taking positive steps to achieve full modernization of its political system and lasting democratic reform.

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