CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE ii. Findings of the CRM 320. The progress recorded by Algerian women in the different areas cited by the CSAR is significant (see also Chapter Six, Objective 5). This progress is the result of Algeria‟s commitment to the equality of the sexes, which is solemnly promulgated in the fundamental law of the country, under section 29: “Citizens are equal before the law, without any discrimination on the basis of birth, race, sex, opinion or any other condition or personal or social circumstance”. The Algerian Constitution reiterates this equality in several of its parts, especially emphasising under section 31 that “institutions have the aim of ensuring the equality, in terms of rights and duties, of all citizens by eliminating obstacles that impede the development of the human person and prevent the effective participation of all in political, economic, social and cultural life”. 321. Equality of the rights and freedoms of all Algerians, male and female, by the fundamental law of 1996 was confirmed in a context where previously the rights of women were denied, despoiled and violated by the terrorists during Algeria‟s terrible “dark decade”. Women paid a heavy price in society. In refusing to submit to a dictatorship that was opposed to reform and refused them the most basic rights, many of them sacrificed their lives – students, teachers, journalists, medical doctors or simply single women or mothers. Others were subjected to atrocities such as kidnapping, sequestration, gang rapes and slavery. 322. Despite these violations and negation of the human rights of women by the terrorists, the Algerian authorities, as well as women themselves, did not give way. On the contrary, the state continued with its policy of promoting women by adhering to most legal international instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the 1952 Convention on Political Rights. Numerous amendments were made to the Codes of the Family and Nationality, as well as to the Criminal Code. The greatest proof of the government‟s commitment and tenacity in the promotion and protection of the rights of women is primarily reflected in the educational rate of young girls, which continued to rise during this sad period of Algeria‟s history. For this reason, the CRM has noted that the primary education of young girls increased significantly compared with that of young boys. The rates were 88 to 89 girls for every 100 boys in 2003/2004. This places Algeria above the average of developing countries which, according to the United Nations, was 87 girls for every 100 boys in 2000. Efforts in this regard made it possible to respond to the MDGs in this area. Moreover, the progress recorded over the past five years in access to political responsibility and senior state positions is quite remarkable and opens up opportunities for those who are prepared to take advantage of them. Female candidates for the Popular National Assembly (lower chamber of the parliament) were 18 times higher in 2002 than in 1997. The number of female candidates in the 2002 local elections tripled compared with the figure for 1997. The appointment of women to senior positions also continues to rise. These different examples are 105