Since 1992 the Government has granted temporary refugee status to over 1,000 persons, pending their relocation abroad. Iraqis represent the majority of the approximately 500 first asylum refugees still in Malta. The Government, however, did not grant refugee status or accept anyone for resettlement. The Government expels or repatriates persons it deems to be economic refugees. The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government Citizens exercise this right in multiparty, secret-ballot elections held every 5 years on the basis of universal suffrage for those 18 years of age or over.
Women are underrepresented in government and politics.
However, as a result of the general elections held in October 1996, the percentage of female members of Parliament rose from 1.5 percent to 5.8 percent. Also for the first time, a woman was appointed by the newly-elected Labor Government to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Department for Equal Status of Women, established in 1989, was upgraded to a Parliamentary Secretariat for Women's Rights within the Office of the Prime Minister. The Government also put into practice a policy of positive action regarding the nomination of women to government boards and committees, whereby 30 percent of such nominations are reserved for women. Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Various human rights organizations and persons interested in promoting and protecting human rights operate freely.