Under the law, the position of commissioner for refugees, as well as an appeals board will be established. In addition to the current humanitarian temporary protected status, the law provides for refugee status, access to free social services and education, residence permits, and travel documents. The authorities expel or repatriate those determined to be ineligible for refugee status. However, the Government did not force the return of any persons to a country where they feared persecution. The Constitution provides citizens with the right to change their government peacefully, and citizens exercise this right in practice through periodic, free, and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage.
Women are underrepresented in government and politics.
In the September 1998 elections, six women were elected to Parliament, three in each party, and one received a ministerial post. The Government has taken steps to include more women in civil service and other government positions. Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Human rights groups operate without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. The Constitution and law prohibit discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinion, color, creed, or sex. The Government respects this prohibition.