In the West African country of Burkina Faso, gender discrimination touches many aspects of women's lives. Inheritance rights are unequal between men and women, violence against women is pervasive and women have lower literacy rates — 22 percent compared to 37 percent for men, according to the 2009 U.N. Human Development Report.

Voters in several areas of Peru will head to the polls on Dec. 5 to take part in run-off elections for department presidential candidates who did not achieve the required 30 percent of the vote during first-round elections Oct. 3. Ten departments — or states — will hold runoffs for the top two candidates.

Haitians will go to the polls Nov. 28 to select a new president and parliament to lead the nation's reconstruction and recovery from the Jan. 12 earthquake that claimed 230,000 lives and left 1.5 million people displaced.

NDI has recognized the courage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her years of sacrifice working for a democratic Burma. Suu Kyi was released Saturday after being illegally detained by Burma's military regime for 15 of the last 21 years.

"Her release marks a new chapter in the career and life of one of the world's great heroines," said NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Aung San Suu Kyi and her people, and we will do everything in our power to be supportive as she continues the struggle to bring true democracy to Burma."