Libya is an authoritarian state whose governing principles are derived from the Green Book of Colonel Qadhafi. The General People's Congress is the legislative arm in Libya; some of its resolutions are considered fundamental law. Congress is said to allow citizens to rule, but real political power has been held by Qadhafi since he took control in a 1969 coup.

The Arab Socialist Union is the only political party, and any other political activity is deemed treasonous. The unicameral General People's Congress (GPC) is the legislative branch of government. It has 760 indirectly elected members with 3-year terms. Youth Revolutionary Committees guard against political dissent and approve candidates for the GPC. There is 1 woman in the GPC and none in Cabinet. There is no provision for direct elections. The judiciary is not independent, and corruption is reported as a problem at all levels of government. Nepotism based on tribal origin is reported as common.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, disability or social status is prohibited, but the legislation is not enforced. Women and tribal minorities suffer social discrimination.

Security forces often hold detainees incommunicado. Impunity is a problem. Although Islam is the official religion, some Islamic groups are banned. An extensive security intelligence apparatus exercises tight control, and political detainees are reported as numerous.

In the centrally planned economy, oil resources account for some 95% of export earnings. International economic sanctions have been lifted, but a decline in the standard of living has been experienced. Freedom of speech is permitted "within the limits of public interest and principles of the Revolution." Criticism of the leader or of government policy is prohibited, and self-censorship is practised by journalists. There are no privately owned radio or television stations, but satellite television is available.

The country is a transit point for women trafficked from Africa to Europe. Efforts are being made to fight trafficking. Amnesty International reports that 6 foreign medical personnel charged with deliberately infecting children with the HIV virus reported they were tortured to extract confessions, on the basis of which they were sentenced to death.

Education from primary school to university level is subsidised. Education is compulsory to age 14. Of school-age children, 96% are reported to attend primary school, and most reach at least Grade 6. Only 53% of girls and 71% of boys attend secondary school. Declining revenues have led to financial cutbacks, and education has suffered. The literacy rate is the highest in North Africa, with over 88% of the population able to read and write.

A 2-year programme begins at age 4. The Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) is 8%. Of the 1,796 teachers working at this level, 99% are women. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 10 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 6 to 14. Primary school begins at age 6 and continues for 6 years. 49% of primary students are girls. 3% of education at this level is private. The GER is reported at 112%.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and is completed in 6 years. At this level 3% of education is private. 49% of students in upper secondary education study in technical vocational programmes. The GER is reported at 122% in lower secondary and 88% in upper secondary education.

375,028 students (51% female) study in tertiary institutions, giving a GER of 56 per cent. 3,032 Libyan students study overseas, mainly in the United Kingdom (1,221), Malaysia (346), France (247), Germany (236), and Canada (178).

Disabled children are entitled to education by law, but current information is not available on government efforts to assist persons with disabilities.

Libya is not a party to the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. No system has been established to deal with refugees and asylum-seekers. The UNHCR reported that there are some 12,000 urban refugees and 43,000 refugees in total in the country.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Libyan government of subjecting migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees to serious human rights abuses, including beatings, arbitrary arrests and forced return. The HRW report, titled Stemming the Flow: Abuses Against Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees, documents how Libyan authorities have arrested undocumented foreigners, mistreated them in detention and forcibly returned them to countries where they could face persecution or torture, such as Eritrea and Somalia.

Some 97% of the population are of Arab-Berber origin. The remaining 3% comprises ethnic minorities of Berbers, Sub-Saharan Africans, Harratins and Tebous. In addition, there are small ethnic groups of Egyptians, Italians, Greeks, Maltese, Tunisians and Armenians. Allegations are made of discrimination based on tribal status. The official language is Arabic, whereas Tamazight (the languages used by Libyan Berbers) do not have official status.

Academic freedom is restricted. Professors and teachers who discuss politically sensitive topics face the risk of dismissal or detention. Internet access comes from a single service provider, though the number of Internet users is increasing.

The Constitutional Proclamation grants women's equality, but traditional practice discriminates against women. Shari'a law governs inheritance, divorce and the right to own property. Women have made progress in recent years, but restrictions continue. Permission for a woman to travel is required from a male relative, and if travelling abroad she must be accompanied by a close male relative. Women now account for 22% of the labour force. Gender differences in education have narrowed in urban areas.

Domestic violence is prohibited in law, but abuse within the family is not discussed. A convicted rapist of a young girl must either marry her if her family insists or serve a prison term. Female genital mutilation is not illegal and is performed on girls in remote areas of the country.

The minimum age for employment is 18. Information is not readily available on the prevalence of child labour.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions. The National Trade Unions' Federation is administered by the People's Committee system. foreign workers cannot join the organisation. Collective bargaining is not permitted. The government approves all agreements between unions and employers. Workers do not have the right to strike. Wages are in arrears. A public sector wage freeze, imposed more than a decade ago, continues despite high inflation.

The average wage of US $170 (86.9 dinars) a month is not sufficient to provide a worker and family with a decent standard of living, Rent, utilities, oil and food staples are subsidised. Foreign workers do not have equal treatment in law. The work week is 48 hours.