in response to these challenges countries have started to adopt policies aimed at increasing gender diversity in public life ranging from the constitutional requirement for equal representation in the legislative bodies in tunisia to quotas in algeria and morocco although further effort to ensure impact and sustainability of these reforms would be necessary such reservations also influence the implementation of principles of gender equality nondiscrimination and freedom of movement and hinder the protection of women against the violation of basic civil and political rights other restrictions relate to differences in access to opportunities in public life employment and leadership