The Government demonstrates its strong commitment to children's rights and welfare through its well-funded systems of public education and medical care. There is no societal pattern of abuse directed against children. Child prostitution is neither accepted within the culture nor practiced. There is no difference in the treatment of girls and boys in educational opportunities, or in the availability of scholarships to attend postsecondary education abroad. Girls and boys receive equal treatment in health care services.
Child abuse is thought to be uncommon, and there have been few child abuse prosecutions.
While children's rights generally are respected, there were reports of several instances of child neglect, which is a byproduct of the breakdown of the extended family. Government officials and representatives from nongovernmental organizations agree that changes are needed to improve the educational system and to reduce drug abuse among youth. The National Code includes a Disabled Persons Antidiscrimination Act and a Handicapped Children Act. No instances of discrimination against the disabled were reported. In 1998 a law requiring building access for the disabled was passed.