Blatant societal discrimination occurs only rarely. Neither society nor the Government is tolerant of violence against women, and the Government prosecutes persons accused of such. The Government funds organizations providing shelter, counseling, and hot lines. The main shelter provides refuge to about 65 abused women per year, many with their children, and responds to between 40 and 45 telephone calls per day. About 150 to 200 cases of sexual abuse occur in an average year.
Women enjoy the same property rights as men.
In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, property is divided equally upon dissolution of a marriage. The law mandates equal pay for equal work. To date there have been no work-related discrimination suits. The Ministry for the Promotion of Women has a mandate to encourage a climate of equal treatment and opportunity in fact as well as in law. The Ministry has initiated a preschool education project on gender issues, a secondary school mentoring project for girls, and a study of the image of women in the media.