International concern over the situation of Kuwaiti women

Experts at the UN human rights committee on Wednesday expressed concern over the process of maintaining equality between men and women in Kuwait. The experts indicated that Kuwait is among the few countries in the world which deprive women their rights to take part in the political life.

In a statement released in Geneva on Wednesday, the committee said after it had read a Kuwaiti report concerning measures taken by the government in order to implement the international charter for civil and political rights, that the report which was submitted by the Kuwaiti government does not embody the reality of the conditions of human rights in Kuwait.

The statement also expressed doubts in the sincere intention of the Kuwaiti government to meet the obligations of the Kuwaiti nation's council concerning strengthening of human rights.

One of the experts questioned " how could a Parliament which prevents giving women their political rights try to offer rights stated in the International charter for civil and political rights."

However, Kuwait's representative at the UN ambassador Dirar al-Razzouq stressed the Emir of Kuwait issued in May 1999 a decree aimed at giving women political rights on equal footing with men, but the Kuwaiti Nation's Council ( parliament) did not approve this decree.