The revolution the world didn't notice was happening.

Something very special is happening in Tunisia…

The past three years have seen a radical transformation of smallest country in North Africa. These changes culminated in the ratification of the country’s new constitution just last month.

Now for us in the west, who assume democratic rights as an ordinary and obvious part of our everyday lives, this might not sound all that significant. But for the people of Tunisia, a quiet revolution has taken place and one which is giving many international commentators great cause for optimism.

All citizens, male and female alike, have equal rights and duties, and are equal before the law without any discrimination. The state guarantees to citizens, male and female, individual and collective rights, and provides them with conditions for a dignified life.

These beautiful words make up article 20 of Tunisia’s new Constitution. They also fly in the face of every muslim stereotype you’ve ever heard. Because sadly, the actions of some arab governments have led to a prevailing global understanding that Islam and democracy must be somehow incompatible; an understanding which is completely untrue.

Tunisia has recovered from the political unrest of the Arab Spring, emerging as a fledgling democracy with – what appears to be – the necessary political will to succeed. The National Constituent Assembly spent nearly two years creating and then debating their new Constitution; with a month devoted solely to debating and analysing each and every article. (If you like you can read the whole thing, translated into English here).

The result is a document of which most democratically minded people would rightly be proud and of which many nations in the western would could aspire to. As you have read, Tunisia’s new constitution is document that enshrines equality between men and women, as a fundamental human right. Something that many would assume couldn’t be possible under the governance of an Islamic state.

The right to vote is protected by article 33. The right to culture and creativity and the states dedication to the promotion of sport and physical activity are enshrined in articles 41 and 42. Article 36 gives citizens the right to protest and article 38 protects the right of every citizen to receive a free education.

Impressively, the Constitution also provides for a right to healthcare, something neither us  Australians, nor the Americans have:

Article 37: Health is a right for every person. The state shall guarantee preventative health care and treatment for every citizen and provide the means necessary to ensure the safety and good quality of health services. The state shall ensure free health care for those without support and those with limited income. It shall guarantee the right to social assistance as specified by law.

While ultimately the success of Tunisia’s new legal framework will only be understood in time, reports are that there is strong respect for the principles of democracy within the country. Miguel de Corral writes of the promising and pragmatic approach of the law makers there who are working across political and cultural divisions to achieve consensus:

In Tunisia, lawmakers – perhaps fearing the worrying trends in Egypt – decided to heed the call of restraint, pragmatism and compromise. In the 2011 elections for a constituent assembly, the Islamist Ennahda Party gained 37 percent of the vote, handily defeating its secular and leftist opponents. It controlled a large part of the assembly, formed a government, and held popular legitimacy.

Last year, however, the assassinations of two secular leftist politicians threatened to derail progress and plunge the country into chaos. Sporadic violence broke out and street protests took place calling for Ennahda to give up power. Ennhada’s leadership, though at first defiant, finally complied and handed over power to a nonpartisan, technocratic government until new elections later this year.

In the end, this “democratic spirit” is what mattered. Constitutions and elections are important in laying out basic foundations for democracy and popular legitimacy. However, if leaders act in an authoritarian manner, constitutions can be abused and elections tampered with.

A revolution has taken place in a nation far away, that here in Australia we hear little about. In amongst an area of significant conflict, where there is a prevailing culture of treating women as second class citizens, Tunisa has emerged as a positive force for equality and for democracy.