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 pattern of societal abuse directed against children. Child prostitution and female genital mutilation are neither acceptable within the culture nor practiced. There is no difference in the treatment of girls and boys in educational opportunities offered in Palau, nor in availability of scholarships to attend postsecondary education abroad. Girls and boys receive equal treatment in health care services.
Child abuse is thought to be relatively uncommon, and there have been few child abuse prosecutions.
While children's rights are generally respected, there were reports of several instances of child neglect, a byproduct of the breakdown of the extended family. The National Code includes a Disabled Persons Antidiscrimination Act and a Handicapped Children Act. There were no reported instances of discrimination against the disabled. There are no building codes or legislation requiring access for the disabled. The public schools have established special education programs to address problems encountered by those with disabilities.