In May 2005, Kuwaiti women were finally granted the right to vote and stand for office, and the opportunity for women to exercise their new political rights arrived far earlier than expected when parliamentary snap elections were called for June 2006. Consequently, NDI initiated a candidate and campaign training program for women in addition to a comprehensive voter education program to raise women’s awareness of their voting rights. In the post-election period, NDI’s programs have focused on developing the capacity of political associations to be more representative and inclusive, with a particular emphasis on women and youth, and supporting women and youth activist engagement in the inter-election period.
Political Context
In 1962, less than a year after gaining independence from Britain, Kuwait approved a constitution that transformed the country into a constitutional monarchy and provided for the establishment of a 50-member National Assembly elected by popular vote, an act which catapulted Kuwait into the forefront of Arab democratic development. Since that time, democratic advances have been implemented sporadically, often when global and local events have jarred political debate. Additionally, ongoing tensions between the government and National Assembly over demands for increased freedom, criticisms of the government and legislative stagnation have impeded the pace of democratic reform; the National Assembly was suspended entirely from 1976-1981 and again from 1986-1992.
During the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the Emir and the government managed Kuwaiti affairs from exile. Striving for unity, the government met with opposition figures during the occupation and committed itself to further democratic reforms, including a reinstatement of the 1962 constitution. Following liberation, opposition groups continued advocating for a lifting of martial law, restructuring of the cabinet and reimplementation of the constitution, which led to elections for the National Assembly in 1992.
In January 2006, Shaikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah succeeded his father as Emir and was faced with an ongoing parliamentary debate over redrawing the electoral constituencies. By reducing the number of electoral districts, reformist MPs hoped to create a system in which candidates had to compete on the basis of sound political platforms rather than personal ties and money, as occurred in the existing 25 constituency system. The resulting deadlock between the government and National Assembly over the issue prompted the Emir to dissolve the National Assembly and call for early elections. By the end of the balloting, Kuwaitis had replaced 17 of the incumbent MPs; immediately following the election, the Emir submitted and the National Assembly passed a bill reducing the number of electoral constituencies to five. Proponents hope the new electoral system will create issue-driven races and lay the groundwork for viable political parties as candidates reach out to larger constituent bases.
In addition to serving as a referendum on reducing the number of electoral districts, the 2006 elections were the first opportunity for Kuwaiti women to vote or stand for office. For decades Kuwait’s political sphere had been governed by strict electoral laws that enfranchised only 10 percent of Kuwaiti citizens and excluded women entirely. In 2005, after decades of advocacy, Kuwaiti women were fully enfranchised, and, less than a year later, 32 women ran for parliament when the Emir unexpectedly dissolved the National Assembly and called for snap elections a year earlier than scheduled. Though none of the women candidates were elected, many ran effective and professional campaigns and the elections drew national and international media attention to their role. The experience of the 2006 elections has paved the way for women to run in future elections, and the inclusion of women voters is helping to foster a more inclusive democracy by making women’s voices and issues central to the electoral platforms of all candidates.
NDI Programming
Increasing Women’s Political Participation
In 2004, NDI initiated its efforts in Kuwait to assist advocates for women's political rights in developing an effective strategy to win universal suffrage. NDI met with leaders in the suffrage movement, held consultations with Kuwaiti women activists and provided women with advocacy tools specifically targeted at passage of the women’s suffrage legislation. Following the announcement granting women the right to vote and run for office, NDI held its fourth Partners in Participation Regional Campaign School in Kuwait. More than 70 women activists and leaders from 15 countries across the Middle East and North Africa, including 20 Kuwaiti women, met to share their experiences, learn how to run successful political campaigns and help to build a regional network of women with the skills to succeed in politics over the long term.
As a result of the Emir’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly and call for early elections, NDI modified what had been a 12-month program for women into a one-month, targeted and concentrated campaign training program. NDI initiated a series of one-on-one consultations for 18 of the 32 registered women candidates with campaign and media experts and elected women from around the region in order to provide tailored feedback to the first time candidates. These consultations focused on campaign messages, candidate image, fundraising, voter outreach, speech development and overall media strategy. NDI also worked with local partners on a comprehensive voter education program to raise women’s awareness on their voting rights and encourage them to vote, which 56 percent did on election day.
Following the 2006 elections, NDI conducted a series of focus groups to gain a better understanding of what factors influenced voters’ political choices during the parliamentary elections and to provide new insight into the perceived role of women as political leaders in Kuwaiti democracy. The findings included rising concerns about domestic and national challenges; negative perceptions of the performance of members of parliament; ambivalent attitudes towards women as political leaders; and an unsympathetic assessment of women’s performance during the June 2006 elections. The results of this research informed NDI’s programming to strengthen women’s political participation through collaboration with civil society organizations, work with political associations and preparation for future elections. NDI’s current activities include providing technical guidance for women on the challenges and opportunities that the electoral system presents for women running in future elections.
Developing Representative and Inclusive Political Bodies
In addition to working with Kuwaiti women, NDI is focusing on strengthening the capacity of other underrepresented groups, such as youth, to improve their abilities to participate in and positively take part in decision-making processes. During the 2006 elections, youth activists drove the political debate through their “Orange Movement: We Want Five” campaign, and the election became a referendum on the reduction of electoral constituencies. Prior to the election, NDI held trainings on get-out-the-vote (GOTV) techniques, message development and media for key youth activists. NDI’s work seeks to sustain and build on the momentum of the youth organizations by providing assistance in building organizational structures and identifying key issues. This effort is complemented by engagement with political associations to increase their capacity to become more representative and inclusive.
Preparing Political Associations for Elections
As a result of legislation passed immediately after the 2006 election, future parliamentary elections will run under a new set of guidelines that reduces the total number of districts and changes voting procedures. In the new system voters will be able to vote for up to four candidates and the top 10 vote recipients in a district will be elected. This system will require new strategies for political associations to maximize their resources and avoid vote splitting. While in the past elections have been based around individual personalities and resources, the new system indicates that successful candidates will also need to draw on organized support. NDI is initiating a series of trainings to prepare political associations for the challenges and changes in the new five constituency system.
Regional Initiatives
NDI has continued to engage Kuwaiti government officials, elected municipal councilors, women candidates, and individuals in regional activities. Currently, Kuwaiti municipal councilors and journalists are participating in NDI programs to support the formation of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Municipalities Association, build the capacity of councilors to carry out their roles and responsibilities as elected officials and improve the ability of journalists to cover political developments in their respective countries. [Link to GCC program description]
Featured Stories
Kuwait: Citizens’ Perceptions of Women in Politics (English) (Arabic)
Video - Voices Rising: Women of the Middle East and North Africa Working for Change
2006 Voter Education Media Ad
2005 Partners in Participation: Campaign School for Women from the Middle East and North Africa
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Washington, D.C.
Leigh Catherine Miles, Program Manager
(202) 728-6304
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