In March the Government enacted a financial assistance program to encourage the voluntary repatriation of refugees to their countries of origin. In April the Government created a service council to assist those refugees wanting to utilize the financial aid program. The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government Luxembourg is a multiparty democracy. Suffrage is universal and compulsory for citizens 18 years of age and above, and balloting is secret. National parliamentary elections are held every 5 years.
Women are underrepresented in government and politics, although they are active in political life.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Human rights groups operate without government restriction. Government officials are cooperative and responsive to their views. In June the Government established the Consultative Commission on Human Rights. This 22-member independent body acts as a consultant to the Government on human rights issues. The commission can propose measures to the Government to increase the protection and promotion of human rights and also serves as the national correspondent for the Vienna-based European Observatory of Racial and Xenophobic Phenomena.