Dominica is a multi-party, parliamentary democracy. The President is head of state and is nominated by the Prime Minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition. The Prime Minister with a Cabinet heads the unicameral, legislative House of Assembly, which has 21 elected members and 9 senators, of whom 5 are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister and 4 on the advice of the opposition leader.

In 2005, the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) formed the government following free and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage. The DLP holds 12 of the 21 elected seats. The Parliamentary Representative for Indigenous People is a Carib Indian who is also the Prime Minister's Parliamentary Secretary and has responsibility for Carib affairs. The judiciary is independent.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex and religion is illegal.
Individual members of the security force have been accused of abuse. The external debt of the country is high, and unemployment is reported at 23%. Corruption occurs but is not a major problem.
Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed and Internet access is not restricted. Public access to government information is not provided.

Primary education is compulsory, free and universal through age 16. Dominica introduced universal secondary education with the opening of 20 high schools at the start of the 2005-06 school year. The Ministry of Education informed 1,600 students who wrote the entrance examinations in May 2005 that there would be places for all.

In the past, several hundred students were not accepted because of a lack of classrooms and furniture, but the new classrooms are expected to accommodate all post-primary education students. Some have criticised the decision, questioning the large number of students who drop out of secondary school. A review of the system has been promised to lessen the number of dropouts and improve literacy.

A 2-year programme begins at age 3. ECE is entirely private, with a Net Enrolment Rate (NER) of 56%. 135 teachers (100% female) work at this level, and 78% of them are trained. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 13 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 5 to 16. Primary education begins at age 5 and lasts for 7 years. 30% of primary education is private. The NER is 88%. 4% of children (6% of boys, 3% of girls) repeat grades. Of the 519 teachers who work at this level, 83% are women and 64% are trained (42% of men, 68% of women). The PTR is 19 : 1.

Students enrol in secondary education from the age of 12 years. The programme lasts 5 years. 33% of secondary education is private. The NER is 90%. 5% of students in lower secondary schools study in technical vocational programmes. 8% of students repeat grades. There are 314 teachers in lower secondary schools and 131 (65% female) in upper secondary. 36% of teachers are trained. The PTR is 17: 1.

642 students study abroad, mainly in the USA (232), Cuba (211), the UK (50) and France (34).

Discrimination is prohibited against persons with disabilities in education or in the provision of other state services. Legislation allows for the employment of persons with disabilities for less than the minimum wage. Some educational services are provided for children with disabilities.

The government does not have a policy regarding refugees.

Instances of discrimination against indigenous Carib Indians continues. 65% of Caribs are aged 18 to 35. Caribs believe that more could be done to protect their rights. Facilities, including schools on the reservation, are similar to those available to rural citizens, but they are poorly equipped. 2 primary schools are on the reservation but no secondary school. The average income is lower and unemployment higher than in rest of the country.

Reports do not indicate any restriction of academic freedom.

Discrimination against women exists in property ownership. Men are considered heads of households, and when a man dies intestate his wife does not inherit the property nor can she sell it, but she may live in it and pass it on to her children. Rates of pay are set for civil servants regardless of gender.

Domestic violence is common. Rape cases are handled only by female police officers, and victims of abuse are helped to find temporary shelter. Sexual harassment is not prohibited in law and is a problem.

The minimum age for employment is 15, and this is enforced.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions. About one-third of the total work force is unionised, including 50% of government workers. The right to strike is recognised and used except for those designated as essential services. Port services and the banana, coconut and citrus industries are considered essential services, whose workers cannot strike. The ILO has urged the government to limit essential services to those that would endanger the lives, safety or health of the population. Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited.

The minimum hourly wage for various categories of workers was last revised in 1989. For some categories of workers it is as low as US$0.37 (EC$1.00). In general, the hourly minimum wage ranges from US$0.74 (EC$2.00) to US$1.11 (EC$3.00); these amount are not enough to provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Most workers earn more than the legislated minimum wage. The legal work week is 40 hours in 5 days.