Progress Amid Resistance

KUWAIT 241with similar functions already exist. The women’s rights groups that do ex -ist are able to work with international and regional organizations and holdinternational conferences on women’s rights.Kuwaiti women experience only minor restrictions on their freedomof access to and use of information to empower themselves in both theircivil and political lives. The Internet remains widely available at home, inoffices, and in public cafes, but websites deemed immoral or politicallyradical are censored. 48 Nevertheless, the Internet continues to play an im -portant role in women’s lives and has enabled women’s rights advocates tonetwork with international organizations and share resources.RecommendationsF Women’s rights NGOs should initiate public education and advocacycampaigns on the importance of voting, aimed specifically at women,to increase turnout in the next election.F The government and NGOs should initiate nonpartisan programs de -signed to support female candidates, teach them how to campaign andcommunicate their message effectively, and provide networking opportunitieswith other elected women leaders from the Arab world.F By using Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as examples of wheresuch changes recently occurred, Kuwaiti NGOs should lobby the governmentto appoint qualified women as judges.F The government should remove all obstacles to the registration andoperation of NGOs.SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTSKuwait has comprehensive social security and welfare schemes and offersmodern health care services to all residents, including noncitizens andmigrant workers. Citizens are free to participate in community life and non-Kuwaitis enjoy the right to form their own cultural associations openly.Women are generally free to make independent decisions about theirhealth and reproductive rights, although limitations to this right existregarding abortion. Contraceptives are readily available and affordablethrough government health services, and private pharmacies offer birthcontrolpills without a prescription. Use of contraceptives is relatively highamong educated Kuwaiti women and is the leading method for family