The Constitution provides for these rights, and the Government respects them in practice. The Government cooperates with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees. It is government policy not to expel persons having valid claims to refugee status, and there were no reports of such expulsions. The issue of first asylum did not arise during the year. 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.
Although progress has been made and there are no formal barriers, few women have run for office. One out of 28 Members of Parliament is a woman, and 1 woman holds a cabinet level position. The Government accepts international and nongovernmental investigations of allegations of human rights abuses. The first defends the rights of foreign residents. The second actively supports women's rights.