Traditional leaders retain considerable influence. Under the Compact of Free Association, the United States is responsible for the islands' defense. The FSM has no security forces apart from national police, who operate under the office of the Secretary of Justice, and public safety officers, who operate under the authority of the attorney generals of the individual state governments. The economy depends heavily on transfer payments from the United States, fishing, tourism, and subsistence agriculture. The Government generally respects the human rights of its citizens, and the law and judiciary provide effective means of dealing with individual instances of abuse.
Traditional customs distinguish between persons on the basis of social status and sex.
There is growing evidence of increased spousal abuse and child neglect, and government agencies often ignore such problems due to the constraints imposed by traditional society. Neither the Government nor other organizations successfully have filled the role of the traditional extended family in protecting and supporting its members. There were no reports of political killings. Both cases remain open but are not known to be under active investigation. There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.