The law provides for freedom of religion, and the Government respects this provision in practice. The Government places neither legal nor administrative restrictions on the movement of citizens within or out of the country. Native-born citizens may not be deprived of citizenship on any grounds. Although they have not been formally granted asylum, a limited number of displaced persons from Papua New Guinea's Bougainville Island, who fled the conflict there several years before, have been allowed to remain in the country indefinitely. The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government.
Citizens have the right to change their government through periodic free elections.
Since independence in 1978, Solomon Islands has had four parliamentary elections, most recently in June 1993, and several elections for provincial and local councils. On four occasions, changes of government resulted from either parliamentary votes of no confidence or the resignation of the Prime Minister. Suffrage is universal over the age of 18. Traditional male dominance has limited the role of women in government. Only one of the 47 members of Parliament is a woman.