There are no provisions for asylum. The number of refugees decreased to an estimated 13,600 as peace in Senegal's Casamance region encouraged some Senegalese refugees to return. The Government continued its policy of placing no pressure on refugees to return to Senegal. For the first time in the country's history, voters were able to choose their government in multiparty elections judged by international observers to be free and fair although they acknowledged irregularities. There are 2 opposition blocs in the legislature, each with 19 seats.
Women are underrepresented in the political process.
One of the eight candidates for President in the recent national elections was a woman. In the National Assembly 10 of the 100 deputies are women, and they have formed a caucus across party lines. Only 2 of the new Cabinet's 25 members are women. The Government generally did not interfere with the Guinea-Bissau Human Rights League and international human rights groups, which continued to investigate human rights abuses. However, the police did occasionally harass members of the League.