discrepancies between the different sets of standards can hinder efforts to close the gender gap imported from french law where the rules are incorporated into the civil code the personal status code can be defined as the set of rules that relate directly or indirectly to the life of the family including inheritance some countries prefer to use the term family code qanun alusra but this is equivalent to the personal status code legislative change on family matters is needed to further women s empowerment both through full access to the economy and in their personal lives these laws also define men s roles which have a major bearing on women s autonomy under the convention s article states parties shall ensure on a basis of equality of men and women a the same right to enter into marriage b the same right freely to choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent c the same rights and responsibilities during marriage and at its dissolution