HRES343JUL15

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending July 15, 2005

House Resolution 343 Commending the State of Kuwait for granting women certain important political rights.

BRIEF

The Resolution commends Kuwait for changing election laws in May 2005 to allow women to vote and run for office.

Sponsor: Representative Joseph Crowley (NY-7^th)

Vote: Passed House 420 to 0 (RC 368) (July 11, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

Whereas on May 16, 2005, the Parliament of the State of Kuwait amended Article 1 of the Election Law 35 of 1962, providing female citizens of Kuwait the right to vote and run in the 2007 elections;

Whereas the rights of women are of paramount importance in international human rights, to be respected and promoted regardless of historical, cultural, or religious heritage;

Whereas the active advancement of women's rights throughout the world is and remains an important policy priority of the United States; and

Whereas the Department of State recognizes that the Kuwaiti parliamentary vote of May 16, 2005, was an important step forward for the women of Kuwait and the nation as a whole, and the United States views this step as a positive development on the road to political reform, serving as a positive example for other governments and societies in the region that are on the path to political freedom, inclusion of women, and full democratization: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That House of Representatives--

(1) commends the Government and Parliament of the State of Kuwait for providing female citizens of Kuwait the right to vote and hold public office;

(2) urges the full participation of Kuwaiti women in the political life of their country; and

(3) encourages the Government of Kuwait to continue taking positive steps to achieve full modernization of its political system and lasting democratic reform.

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