Political bloc to endorse women candidates

Kuwait City: Three Kuwaiti women have announced their intent to launch the first Kuwaiti political bloc for women with the aim of endorsing women to take up leading posts in all fields.

Speaking to Gulf News on Monday about the new bloc named 'Growth,' Khowla Al Ateeqi explained that the idea was provoked by "the extreme failure of female candidates in the previous parliamentary elections".

Al Ateeqi, one of the three women, said that no political bloc supported any female candidate during the previous elections, in which Kuwaiti women participated for the first time after gaining their political rights in 2004.

Meetings

"The bloc will support all women regardless of their stand. Thus far, the three launchers include a conservative Shiite, a conservative Sunni and a liberal," she said.

Al Ateeqi added that they will be holding frequent meetings with other parties in order to fully develop the idea before the official launch of the bloc in March 2009.

Noting that votes for women make up 58 per cent of the total number of votes during their first participation, Al Ateeqi explained that the priority for this bloc is to "prepare women to be a partner in the process of decision-making as well as pave the way for the society's acceptance to that."

She added that these plans will be achieved through cooperation with non-governmental societies and influential individuals who will guide women to leading posts within the political, social and financial sectors.