VZCZCXRO1020
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #4121/01 2900435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170435Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7191
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1557
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004121 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP(BJACKSON), NEA/PPD (DBENZE), IIP/NEA/SCA 
(SLECHTENBER-KASTEN), NEA/PI (ORICCHI), G/IWI 
 
ABU DHABI - PASS TO MEPI REGIONAL OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC OIIP SCUL KMPI XF KU FREEDOM AGENDA
SUBJECT: FY06Q4 PROGRAM EVALUATION: U.S. SPEAKER DR. SARAH BREWER 
INSPIRES WOMEN POLITICAL LEADERS IN KUWAIT 
 
¶1.  Summary: On September 17 - 20, 2006, PA Kuwait hosted U.S. 
Speaker on women and politics, Dr. Sarah Brewer, for a five-day 
intensive speaking tour in Kuwait. The associate director of 
American University's Women and Politics Institute effectively 
engaged Kuwaiti female political activists ranging from progressive 
liberals to religious conservatives during her four-day program. 
The feminist intellectual enthused women activists as well as future 
leaders at a variety of women's and youth organizations. The 
speaker's engagement with Kuwaiti audiences generated new ideas for 
advancing democracy, including proposing MEPI projects, stimulated 
networking between Kuwaiti USG-funded exchange participants, and 
encouraged linkages between American and Kuwaiti universities and 
organizations.  End Summary. 
 
Program Description 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  Dr. Sarah Brewer, the associate director of the Women and 
Politics Institute at American University in Washington, D.C., 
visited Kuwait September 17-20, 2006. She conducted rousing, 
impressive lectures on women and politics before mixed audiences of 
students and faculty at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and 
the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST). The speaker 
spent time with members of The Women's Network, a liberal, 
professional women's rights organization helping them to refine 
their goals and objectives.  She learned details about the campaign 
process and the aftermath of the elections from former candidate and 
president of the Kuwait Economic Society, Dr. Rola Dashti.  Dr. 
Brewer aided Post's alumni networking efforts by delivering remarks 
at the Alumni USA event in honor of Kuwaiti USG-funded exchange 
program participants (IVLP, VolVis, Fulbright, and MEPI) on the 
importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders, strategies 
for establishing links between U.S. and Kuwaiti institutions and the 
value of U.S. higher education.  Hosted by the Ambassador and 
organized by PD, this special USG alumni reunion was attended by 
more than 250 prominent guests representing a broad swathe of 
Kuwaiti society. 
 
Reinvigorating the Audience 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Dr. Brewer delivered an uplifting, encouraging message of hope 
and perseverance: "Do not give up your fight and do not lose your 
momentum. There is an opportunity for Kuwaiti women to hold 
political office, as in other countries in the region." She 
discussed the possibility of incorporating a "quota" system, to 
ensure their participation in future parliamentary elections.  She 
encouraged Kuwaiti women and youth to pursue education in the U.S. 
particularly at her alma mater American University.  She also 
promoted the idea of working with her Center, raising the 
possibility of co-sponsoring MEPI projects and conducting distance 
education programs on leadership and civil society for Kuwaiti 
women. 
 
Supporting Movement in the Right Direction 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  Dr. Brewer engaged in dialogues with more than 400 Embassy 
contacts at program events, including an exclusive luncheon with 
eight female candidates and activists in the 2006 elections.  Her 
two lectures were well attended and welcomed by students and 
faculty.  Many female students appreciated her stirring remarks and 
viewed her as a positive role model.  Her talks received excellent 
press coverage including a full page, in-depth exclusive interview 
appearing in the Kuwaiti daily, "Al-Rai Al-Aam" on October 1. Dr. 
Brewer also met with the ten-member board of directors of the 
Women's Cultural and Social Association, one of the leading, 
progressive Kuwaiti women's NGO's that supported women's full 
political emancipation, a struggle originating in the 1950's.  Her 
program was publicized in the following articles, spreading her 
message to varied audiences throughout Kuwait: 
 
-- 9/20/06, GUST lecture, Kuwait Times (circ. 35,000), p. 4, 1/4 
page, 1 photo 
-- 9/20/06, GUST lecture, Al-Qabas (circ. 70,000), p. 16, 1/2 page, 
2 photos 
-- 9/20/06, GUST lecture, Arab Times (circ. 40,000), p. 3, 1/4 page, 
2 photos 
-- 10/01/06, exclusive interview, Al-Rai Al-Aam (circ. 80,000), p. 
16, full page, 2 photos 
 
Advancing Mission Goals 
----------------------- 
 
¶5.  A lively, energetic and motivational speaker, Dr. Brewer 
effectively addressed a number of key issues pertinent to the 
 
KUWAIT 00004121  002 OF 002 
 
 
Embassy's MPP goals, including stressing the importance of women's 
political participation, organizing and political activism; 
energizing political activity post-election; encouraging democratic 
practices and embracing civil society values in Kuwait.  Moreover, 
Dr. Brewer's interactions with Kuwaiti political activists broadened 
awareness of American society and values, particularly those that 
support universal civil rights.  She also conducted youth outreach 
and encouraged Kuwaiti students to pursue higher education in the 
U.S. 
 
Surprising Impact 
----------------- 
 
¶6.  Participants maintained that Dr. Brewer's highly-interactive 
speaking engagements increased their awareness of women's rights and 
the importance of achieving social, economic, and political 
equality.  One conservative female activist and leader of a leading 
Islamic women's organization, the Islamic Social Reform Committee, 
summed up her personal sentiments by briefly uncovering her "hijab" 
(scarf), flashing her shiny black hair, and calling Dr. Brewer "our 
sister" in the struggle to gain equal rights both socially and 
politically. On a lighter note, she told Dr. Brewer that "We receive 
numerous visitors who want to write about us, but we never see any 
of their publications or hear from them again." She added that she 
was pleased to see that the Embassy is offering an opportunity to 
hold a dialogue with a scholar such as Dr. Brewer with "no strings 
attached." 
 
Establishing Links for Future Engagement 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  The conservative Kuwaiti woman assured Dr. Brewer that as women, 
"We all have much in common and that we all have but one God."  The 
visitor was well received, exchanged ideas freely, and was briefed 
on women's social development programs in Kuwait. Dr. Brewer 
encouraged the society to correspond with her at the Women's Center 
at American University and the young women responded 
enthusiastically to her offer to stay in touch and communicate via 
her website at http://wandp.american.edu/. 
 
Dynamic Exchange 
---------------- 
 
¶8.  Dr. Brewer successfully and eloquently engaged Kuwaiti men and 
women, as well as diverse groups of students and faculty. As a 
result of her program, she inspired many Kuwaiti women to consider a 
career in politics and leadership. Her visit afforded the Embassy 
access to otherwise conservative and alienated audiences. She 
generated increased good will toward the Embassy and reiterated our 
support for Kuwaiti women's achievement of full political and social 
participation in Kuwaiti society. Dr. Brewer helped the Post to 
advance democratic principles and encouraged direct linkages with 
American universities and educational institutions and organizations 
in Kuwait. She discussed the idea of organizing a joint DVC training 
program for women on leadership with American University, The Kuwait 
Economic Society and AUK to be funded by MEPI. 
 
Choice Speaker 
-------------- 
 
¶9.  Embassy thanks IIP/NEA for arranging Dr. Brewer's visit to 
Kuwait as a U.S. Speaker for an extended program. Dr. Brewer was a 
superb interlocutor on topics related to democracy, women's rights 
and political empowerment.  Post highly recommends Dr. Sarah Brewer 
to other posts working on similar MPP goals and hope to see her 
return to Kuwait to advance some of the program ideas she initiated 
during her meetings with Kuwait women leaders. 
 
TUELLER