Brunei Darussalam is a small, wealthy Islamic country that has been ruled by the same family for over 600 years. It became sovereign in 1984. After a failed rebellion in 1962, the Sultan assumed emergency powers for a 2-year period. These powers have been renewed regularly under the current Sultan to become ongoing, so that few limits are placed on his power. The hereditary monarchy and the observance of traditional Islamic values are promoted through a national ideology known as the Melayu Islam Beraja or "Malay Muslim Monarchy." A form of popular representation is based on a traditional system of village chiefs elected by secret ballot.

Recent amendments to royal succession allow the inclusion in the process of the Sultan's sons from a divorced wife. After a 20-year hiatus the Sultan has appointed a Legislative Council, which has a limited role in approving legislation. No women serve as ministers or have seats in the Legislative Council. In addition to holding the positions of Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Finance, Chancellor of the university and Superintendent of the Police Force, the Sultan is head of the Shafi'i sect of the Islamic faith. Political activity is discouraged; civil servants and security forces, who together make up 60% of employed citizens, cannot join political parties.

There is no provision for an independent judiciary. All higher court judges are appointed, and can be removed, by the Sultan. The courts appear to act independently. The law is based on English common law and Shari'a law; the latter supersedes secular law in divorce, inheritance and some sexual crimes but is not applied to non-Muslims. Lawyers are working to align the legal systems.

Discrimination based on race, sex, disability, language or social status is not legally prohibited. There is enforcement of khalwat, an Islamic prohibition on the close proximity within a secluded space of a Muslim male or female with a member of the opposite sex other than a spouse or other close relative, a punishable offence. Caning is mandatory for drug-related and criminal offences and is part of the sentence imposed in 80% of criminal convictions.

Oil and gas revenues have been used to provide a wide range of services and benefits including free schooling, medical care and jobs.

Freedom of speech and of the press are limited under the ongoing emergency powers. People are prohibited from using language considered "irresponsible, derogatory, scandalous or injurious" to the Sultan. The government can ban distribution of foreign publications. The growing access to fax machines, the Internet and satellite transmissions makes it difficult to keep material from entering the country. Self-censorship is practised to avoid angering the government.

Some improvement has been made on government transparency, but information on the royal family's financial dealings is considered private and confidential. The Ministry of Religious Affairs prepares the weekly sermons delivered in mosques. Surveillance and detention are imposed on persons considered to promote radical Islam or non-Muslims who proselytise. Residents carry an identity card that includes religious affiliation, and visitors specify their religion on landing cards.

The country is a destination for a small number of persons trafficked within the region for sexual exploitation.

Education is free, compulsory and universal for the first 9 years of schooling, after which it continues to be free but is no longer compulsory. Courses on Islam or the national ideology are required, and the teaching of other religions is prohibited. All students, including non-Muslims, have a course of study on the Islamic faith and learn Arabic script. The International School of Brunei and the Jerudong International School are exempt from these requirements. Parents may provide religious instruction to children in their own homes. All government schools, the national university and other educational institutions require non-Muslim students to wear the tudong (hijab) as part of their uniform.

A 3-year ECE programme begins at age 3. 11,877 children are enrolled, and 67% of ECE provision is private. There are 515 ECE teachers (86% female). The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 23 : 1.

Primary education begins at age 6. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 98% (48% female). 36% of primary education is private. 3% of children repeat a grade. There are 3,528 primary teachers (74% female), of whom 96% are trained. The PTR is 13 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and lasts 7 years. The Gross Enrolment Rate is 94%. 13% of secondary education is private. 6% of students study in technical vocational programmes. There are 1,798 teachers in lower secondary and 1,666 in upper secondary schools. The PTR is 12 : 1 in lower secondary and 10 : 1 in upper secondary education.

The number of female university graduates has increased, and nearly two-thirds of the national university's entering class are women. Men are eligible for permanent positions in government service whether or not they have university degrees, but women without university degrees can hold only temporary government positions on a month-to-month basis. Women in temporary positions receive less annual leave and fewer allowances than those in permanent positions. 1,886 Brunei students study abroad, mainly in Australia (753), the UK (744), Malaysia (287), New Zealand (25) and Canada (22).

The law does not mandate accessibility or other assistance for persons with disabilities. Attempts to provide educational services for children with disabilities reportedly do not meet international norms. Juvenile offenders serve their sentences in an adult prison at a government rehabilitation centre.

The government is not party to the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. No provision grants temporary refuge or refugee status to those seeking asylum. Persons arriving without valid entry documents and means of support are considered illegal immigrants and refused entry. A sizable number of stateless persons and permanent residents who are not citizens are entitled to free education at government schools and vocational and technical institutions.

Approximately 70% of the population is ethnic Malay. The Chinese minority accounts for 18% of the population. A sizable Indian minority is also reported. Indigenous tribal peoples make up the balance.

Some researchers publish from overseas under a pseudonym when they think the subject matter will not be well received. There are no politically oriented student associations. Private e-mail and Internet chat room exchanges are monitored. An informer system is part of the internal security apparatus that monitors suspected dissidents including on campus.

A special unit staffed by female officers has been instituted in the police department to investigate domestic abuse complaints. Islamic courts offer counselling in domestic violence cases. Foreign domestic servants are subject to abuse. The government investigates allegations of abuse and imposes penalties. Islamic traditions deny equal status of women with men in a number of important areas such as divorce, inheritance and custody of children. Female citizens can pass their nationality to their children and own property, including business properties. There has been an influx of women into the work force. Most government departments and the uniformed services require female Muslims and non-Muslims to wear the tudong as part of their dress code.

The law prohibits the employment of children under age 16, while for those aged 16 and 17 parental consent and approval by the Labour Commission are required. Female workers under 18 may not work at night or on offshore oil platforms. The laws on child labour are enforced. The government adheres to the ILO standards of Convention 182 on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour but is not a member of the ILO.

Trade unions are legal and independent but must be registered. Workers may form and join trade unions, except military personnel, prison guards and police officers. Affiliation with international labour organisations is not allowed. In practice there is no union activity in the country. 3 registered trade unions exist in the oil sector but are inactive. There is no foundation for collective bargaining, and strikes are illegal. Wage and benefit packages are based on market conditions. Most employed citizens get good salaries. There is no minimum wage. 100,000 foreign nationals work in the country.