Constituent assembly elections in Tunisia next month – the first competitive poll in the country’s history – will mark a significant milestone in the political transition following the overthrow of autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January. One of the new legislators’ tasks will be to draft a new constitution.

As Kyrgyzstan prepares for presidential elections Oct. 30, unemployment and corruption are top issues for voters in Central Asia’s first parliamentary democracy. According to recent focus group research, Kyrgyz generally have a positive view of the current government thanks to steps it has taken to improve living standards, including wage increases for teachers, doctors and civil service employees; lower utility costs; and lower interest rates for farmers.

Because they can give voice to citizen concerns, oversee public spending, and help to spur economic and democratic development through legislation, parliaments are increasingly recognized by the international community for their potential role in deepening democracy. At the same time, citizen groups have become more active in monitoring parliaments, assessing their performance and coming up with new ways to enable citizens to participate in the political process.

Men still hold most of the power in Kazakhstan, despite a commitment by the government that women will hold 30 percent of decision-making roles at all levels of government by 2016. 

Only 11 percent of parliamentarians are female. And while women make up 58 percent of the civil service — and about 52 percent of the population — less than 9 percent of them hold high-level positions. In local governments, 10 percent of decision-making positions are held by women.