Kuwaiti Panel Passes Landmark Women's Rghts
Bill
Agence France-Presse - 05 February, 2007
A Kuwaiti parliamentary panel has approved
landmark draft legislation that grants a host of benefits to women
in the oil-rich Gulf state, the head of the committee
said.
MP Saleh Ashour said the bill allows women to seek
government housing on a par with men, increases paid leave to 70
days from a current 40 and grants maternity leave for up to two
years.
The legislation must be passed by parliament and
signed by the emir to become effective. Ashour expected the bill to
be debated in the house in March or April.
Under Kuwaiti
law, only male citizens who are married can apply for a government
house. The new bill gives the same right to Kuwaiti women who are
divorced, widowed or married to foreigners.
The bill also
obliges the government to pay monthly assistance of 865 dollars to
Kuwaiti women who are married, have children but don't have a
job.
Kuwaiti women took part in parliamentary elections for
the first time in June, one year after they were granted full
political rights following a struggle lasting four
decades.
Twenty-eight women candidates contested the
elections but none of them won.
The 16-member Kuwaiti cabinet
includes one woman
minister. |