Liechtenstein is a small nation of 160 sqare kilometers landlocked in central Europe that shares borders with Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is an extremely prosperous country with a diversified economy that includes a large financial services sector. In 2009, Liechtenstein had the world's highest per [Page 857]capita Gross Domestic Product of $122,100. It uses the Swiss Franc as its currency, and the nation's culture is heavily influenced by surrounding countries, particularly Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Liechtenstein's national language is German. The population of 34,761 (estimate as of July 2009) is primarily Roman Catholic (76.2 percent).

Women in Liechtenstein only won the right to vote in 1984, but since then, the country has established gender equality as a principle in law with the Gender Equality Act ...