Egypt has been undergoing a tumultuous, uncertain democratic transition for more than two years. Inspired by the events in Tunisia, Egyptians organized and participated in mass protests to oust President Hosni Mubarak.

Historically, customs and traditional laws in Africa hindered women's access to education and development, while promoting, to a varying degree, a culture of male dominance across the continent.

There is growing recognition that stable peace and national prosperity can only be achieved when institutions are democratic and representative of all groups of society.

"Conflict affects women and men differently. In post-conflict contexts, numerous political, socio-economic, ideological and psychological obstacles prevent women from participating fully in political life and in electoral processes."

This directive sets out UN policy for providing support to the design or reform of an electoral system, or parts of an electoral system. 

Women make up around 50% of the Fiji population but they continue to be underrepresented in national decision-making and are denied equal participation in such processes.An y democratisation process that does not