The Center for Gulf Studies Hosts "When the People Spoke"

The Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at The American University of Kuwait (AUK) presented a screening of the documentary film "When the People Spoke - Part One" which was produced and directed by Mr. Amer Al Zuhair. The screening took place in the AUK Auditorium and attracted a number of visitors.

The film documents the evolution of women's rights in Kuwait and the role of women in society throughout Kuwait's history. It sheds light on the debate between elements of society that were striving for gender equality in the country, and the more conservative elements who argued that women's participation should be restricted. This culminated in a nation-wide movement in 2005 that ultimately resulted in Kuwaiti women attaining the right to vote and run for Parliament.

The event concluded with Mr. Al Zuhair being joined by women's rights activist Ms. Fatma Hayat and CGS Director Dr. Farah Al-Nakib in exchanging an open discussion with the audience. Recurring points raised during the discussion centered on the major challenges facing women's rights in Kuwait today, and the underlying causes and implications of having no women elected to Parliament in the 2012 elections.

The Center for Gulf Studies (CGS) at the American University of Kuwait is a research center that aims to promote greater cultural understanding of and increased intellectual interest in the Gulf by facilitating free and open academic discourse on a range of issues that both shape and challenge this critical region of the world. The goal of CGS is to enable scholars as well as political and civil society actors both within and outside the region to contribute and add value to the burgeoning field of Gulf Studies, while at the same time informing and engaging the general public. To this end, the CGS encourages, supports, and cultivates interesting and original research on the Gulf, while regularly organizing a variety of public academic events such as lectures, roundtable discussions, and conferences.

Released by the Office of Public Affairs on the 19th March 2012