Post by ppyenews on Jul 1, 2006 0:51:21 GMT -5
Welcome to ‘Talkback Topic’ – I’m Phillip Pye.
For the first time ever, Women in Kuwait were given the opportunity to either stand for Parliament, or quite simply ‘Vote’. Women candidates did not win a seat in the Kuwaiti parliament, although now that women have the right to vote, political analysts believe this will force candidates to address women's issues. No women were elected to Parliament however some reformist candidates were and are likely to continue to push electoral-reform issues in what has been a totally male dominated scene.
Polling stations closed in the historic Kuwaiti election last Friday, with women taking part for the first time in large numbers. Polling Stations closed at 8 p.m. local time, 12 hours after voting began. Manual counting of votes was expected to start soon but there were no immediate official figures on the turnout. State-run Kuwait TV reported that it was more than 80 per cent in many areas. Officials claim that some 250 candidates were standing, including 28 women determined to make headway against daunting odds and beat seasoned male opponents, many of whom are former parliamentarians seeking re-election.
Parliament passed a law in May 2005 giving women the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections for the 50-seat National Assembly of the oil-producing country. According to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah, the participation of women has added a new spirit to the march of democracy in Kuwait," Women can vote and stand for election in four of the six countries in the conservative, patriarchal Gulf Arab region. They are banned in Saudi Arabia, where women's rights are limited, and there are no political polls in the UAE. In a 35-23 vote the electoral portfolio was expanded to include women on 16 May, 2005. Under pressure from Islamists, the right of women to run as candidates and to vote was made subject to Islamic Laws.
These changes have in no way gone toward giving the women-folk of these areas total freedom, but it is a start. The Oppression of Women’s rights in many parts of the world still demands change however the fight goes on. It is ‘About Time’ these nations gave equal rights and opportunities to Women. It is ‘About Time’ they took a good look around the world and realized what a vital asset Women are in the Political Arena. It is ‘About Time’ they started listening to a Woman’s commonsense.
I’m Phillip Pye.
For the first time ever, Women in Kuwait were given the opportunity to either stand for Parliament, or quite simply ‘Vote’. Women candidates did not win a seat in the Kuwaiti parliament, although now that women have the right to vote, political analysts believe this will force candidates to address women's issues. No women were elected to Parliament however some reformist candidates were and are likely to continue to push electoral-reform issues in what has been a totally male dominated scene.
Polling stations closed in the historic Kuwaiti election last Friday, with women taking part for the first time in large numbers. Polling Stations closed at 8 p.m. local time, 12 hours after voting began. Manual counting of votes was expected to start soon but there were no immediate official figures on the turnout. State-run Kuwait TV reported that it was more than 80 per cent in many areas. Officials claim that some 250 candidates were standing, including 28 women determined to make headway against daunting odds and beat seasoned male opponents, many of whom are former parliamentarians seeking re-election.
Parliament passed a law in May 2005 giving women the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections for the 50-seat National Assembly of the oil-producing country. According to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah, the participation of women has added a new spirit to the march of democracy in Kuwait," Women can vote and stand for election in four of the six countries in the conservative, patriarchal Gulf Arab region. They are banned in Saudi Arabia, where women's rights are limited, and there are no political polls in the UAE. In a 35-23 vote the electoral portfolio was expanded to include women on 16 May, 2005. Under pressure from Islamists, the right of women to run as candidates and to vote was made subject to Islamic Laws.
These changes have in no way gone toward giving the women-folk of these areas total freedom, but it is a start. The Oppression of Women’s rights in many parts of the world still demands change however the fight goes on. It is ‘About Time’ these nations gave equal rights and opportunities to Women. It is ‘About Time’ they took a good look around the world and realized what a vital asset Women are in the Political Arena. It is ‘About Time’ they started listening to a Woman’s commonsense.
I’m Phillip Pye.