In 2005, there were presidential and parliamentary elections deemed generally free and fair by observers. In Liberia's first presidential election after 14 years of civil war, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf defeated 21 other candidates to be elected President, becoming Africa's first elected female head of state. Also elected were members of the 64-seat House of Representatives and of the 30-seat Senate, with 30 political parties participating. There are 8 women in the House and 5 in the Senate.

Local governments have no revenue base and rely on the central government for funds. There is only limited government outside of Monrovia. Civil servants wait for months to be paid, and NGOs provide basic services. Corruption is endemic throughout the government; financial mismanagement and lack of accountability are serious problems. To help stabilise government finances, international financial controllers require full disclosure of governmental financial transactions in key ministries.

High-level officials have been dismissed for corruption. After the elections, legislators leaving office stripped the buildings of equipment and furniture. The judiciary is independent in law but is subject to pressure from many quarters and is reported to be corrupt.

Discrimination based on ethnic background, race, sex, creed, place of origin or political opinion is prohibited, but the legislation is not enforced.

Traditional justice is administered by clan chiefs. Some 15,000 peacekeepers are in Liberia (UNMIL) and, along with 1,100 international police, are responsible for security. The Liberian National Police and Armed Forces are being retrained. Mob violence and vigilantism are reported. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to investigate violations and war crimes committed during the civil war.

The state is highly centralised, and poverty, unemployment and illiteracy are widespread.

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed, and the new government has respected these rights. The price of newspapers and an illiteracy rate of 75% limits print media to the capital and leaves radio as the primary means of mass communication. Attacks on journalists at political rallies took place prior to the elections. Journalists are accused of accepting bribes and of blackmail.

An anti-trafficking law has been adopted, but enforcement is weak. Victims are trafficked for prostitution and labour. Young children are trafficked, especially orphans or children from extremely poor families. Reports continue of the recruitment of child soldiers.

The education system barely functions. Schools are in very poor condition, and many children who attend school in Monrovia go to private schools. Private schools were also damaged and need renovations. Education is compulsory to age 16. Costly school fees put education out of reach of thousands of school-age children. Families are required to provide uniforms, books, pencils, paper and even desks. UNICEF reported that more than half of school-age children do not attend school.

More than 15,000 child soldiers have been disarmed and demobilised, and efforts continue to reunite children with their families. Former child soldiers who turned over their weapons were offered counselling, reading lessons and help in tracing family members. Lack of schools or other support in their communities slows the repatriation of children to their home communities.

Thousands of children live on the streets. 40 registered orphanages, and many unofficial orphanages serve as transit points or group homes. Little statistical information is available on education.

A 3-year programme begins at age 3. At this level 39% of education is private.

Education is compulsory for ages 6 to 15 years. Primary school begins at age 6 and continues for 6 years.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and is completed in 6 years.

589 Liberian students study overseas, mainly in the USA (411), Bulgaria (30), the United Kingdom (25), Morocco (21) and Saudi Arabia (15).

Discrimination against persons with disabilities is illegal but is reported to be severe. The civil war has left many, including children, with disabilities. Infanticide or abandonment of disabled children is reported. Little by way of education is available in Liberia for any children, and facilities are in very poor condition. The situation of disabled children is very difficult, and education is received only by those fortunate enough to be part of an NGO or donor programme.

The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The UNHCR has assisted the repatriation of approximately 35,000 refugees, while another 30,000 refugees returned without assistance. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are a major problem; 272,000 IDPs returned home after the end of the war, and another 54,000 are waiting to return. Very little assistance is available to them on their return.

Although the law prohibits ethnic discrimination, it also provides that "only persons who are Negroes or of Negro descent" may be citizens or own land. Lebanese and Asian residents who have lived in the country all their lives are therefore denied rights on the basis of race. 16 indigenous ethnic groups live in Liberia, each concentrated regionally and speaking its own primary language. No ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population.

Reports do not indicate any violation of academic freedom, but little tertiary education is available.

Women suffered greatly during the civil war, and thousands remain displaced with no way of providing for their families. During the civil war, when rebels and government forces alike ruled with guns, women were brutalised and victimised, as were children. The incidence of female genital mutilation, once thought to have dropped, has begun increasing again as traditional societies re-establish themselves throughout the country.

Legally, women have the right to inherit land and property, to receive equal pay for work of equal value and to own and manage a business.

Domestic violence is prohibited in law, but it is widespread and not taken seriously by the courts. As part of the training for the new police force, 50 investigators have been assigned to the Women's and Children's Protection Section, which deals with sexual offences. Prostitution is illegal but widespread.

Children under age 16 are by law not to be employed during school hours, but lax enforcement of this legislation results in a serious child labour problem. In rural areas, where there are no schools, children take care of younger siblings, allowing parents to work on subsistence farms. Urban children assist their parents in markets or are street vendors. Child labour in the alluvial mining industry is reported. However, some of the worst practices imposed during the civil war have ended, and disarming and rehabilitation efforts are under way.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, except members of the military and police. Unions are prohibited from partisan political activity. The work force is largely illiterate, and subsistence level activities are the main support of the majority of the population. Union membership is low. Workers, except civil servants, have the right to bargain collectively and the right to strike, but these rights are not used because of the 80% unemployment rate. Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited but occurs. Officials are reported to force convicts to work for them.

The minimum wage is US$0.20 (10 ld) per hour for an unskilled labourer, while an agricultural worker is paid US$1.20 (60 ld) for an 8-hour day. Skilled labour has no minimum wage. The minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Civil servants' salaries are now paid, but arrears are owed. A 48-hour, 6-day week is standard. Most citizens accept any work they can find regardless of wages or working conditions.