services or to provide any at all. In the education sector, it is possible to obtain credits or certificates without sitting for the examinations. Access to justice is cumbersome and expensive, and its processes are very slow and complex. The police are hampered in their task by staff shortages and a lack of the necessary expertise and equipment to handle investigations competently. xxxiii. Many reforms are in place as far as good governance and the fight against corruption are concerned. Although wide ranging, the nature of many of the reforms reflects the degradation of the public administration system. The government’s commitment, together with the sympathy and assistance of donors, is making an impact as service delivery and the competence of public servants are already showing signs of improvement. xxxiv. Mozambique has a good record in promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women, second on the continent only to Rwanda and South Africa. The gender policy of the ruling party, FRELIMO, sets aside a quota of 35 per cent of public positions for women. This has yielded positive results, as women have been appointed to important political and public service positions at the central, provincial and local levels. Women’s rights, however, lag behind the gains attained so far in the political sphere. Women are still subjected to considerable social discrimination and marginalisation. Gender-based domestic violence is very common and trafficking in women a significant hazard. 3.2 Economic Governance and Management xxxv. By all accounts, Mozambique represents one of the best cases in Africa of post-conflict transition to political stability, democracy, and good political and economic governance. Over the last 15 years the country has consistently attained high economic growth rates, the highest in Africa for a non-oil producer. Growth averaged 8 per cent between 2000 and 2006, but fell slightly to 7.3 per cent in 2007. The gross domestic product (GDP) per capita grew at an average rate of 5.9 per cent between 1996 and 2006. xxxvi. Strong macroeconomic management has contributed to Mozambique’s current good economic performance. Since the end of the civil war in 1992, the government has consistently pursued prudent monetary, fiscal, exchange rate, trade and debt management policies. Inflation has largely been brought under control, falling from double-digit figures between 2000 and 2004 to an average of 7 per cent between 2005 and 2007, and 8.16 per cent in 2008. Exchange rates have been largely stable and the fiscal deficit has been reduced to close to the SADC target of 5 per cent of the GDP. xxxvii. The government has also taken serious steps to ratify and domesticate international codes and standards. In particular, significant progress has been made in implementing codes and standards aimed at strengthening the country’s 8 A P R M COU N T RY R EV IEW R EP ORT NO. 11