Women's Rights in Kuwait have taken another step forward as the country's constitutional court passed a law that allows women to obtain a passport without the signature of a husband or male relative. This action by the court gets rid of a 1962 passport law that required the signature of a husband on a woman's passport. The court states "the previous requirement was in violation of guarantees of freedom and gender equality in the constitution." The court looked into the issue when a woman complained her husband would not allow her to apply for a passport.
Mad props to Kuwait this week, I'm so glad to finally be writing about a story that was not about oppression but instead systematic government change to allow for improved rights for women. This is not a first time move for Kuwait, in 2005 women gained the right to vote, and in 2009 the first women were elected to parliament. Not only is Kuwait passing new laws or re-evaluating the constitutionality of old ones, they are actually enforcing them! Ensuring women had safe, albeit separate polling stations in their first election; women made up 60% of eligible voters. Cheers to Kuwait for changing laws, enforcing them, and letting women's votes count!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8317921.stm
1 comment:
I think this is a great story. It's great to see countries revising laws to promote and ensure equal treatment between genders. As you said, its much better than the usual oppressive stories we hear, especially from this part of the world.
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