fundamental rights for the entire population. irrespective of gender or religious belief. >> explaining some of it there. this is surprising to many people. what do you think of the message to the rest of the region that the committee might have wanted to send here, phil? >> reporter: what it is doing is sending a message that the syrian scenario doesn't have to be the only result of a democratic revolution, perhaps. although, overwhelmingly, the result of the arab spring did not live up to the hope they initially inspired. this is one country through difficult hard work and some fortune and dedication, particularly, notably from the civil society groups. it has been able to bridge the divide that could have led it down a very different paths. this is also a country where those same threats and those same challenges to establishing democracy still exist where there is a strong islamist