Tuvalu is a parliamentary democracy with a governor general as head of state. The unicameral Parliament has 15 members, elected by universal suffrage for a 4-year term. Elections in 2002 were deemed free and fair. There are no political parties. Parliament selected a new Prime Minister in 2004. There are no female members of Cabinet or of Parliament, but the number of female senior civil servants has increased. The judiciary is independent in law and in practice.

Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, colour, and place of origin, religion or political belief, and the legislation is enforced.

Hereditary elders impose traditional punishment and discipline, including corporal punishment. The public perceives the government as lacking transparency and the laws against corruption as weak. Public funds are reported to be poorly managed.

Public access to government information is not provided in law, but some government departments provide information when requested. Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed but reportedly limited in practice. There are no private, independent media. Access to the Internet is not restricted.

Reports do not indicate that trafficking is a problem.

A minimum of 10 years of compulsory education have been provided for all Tuvaluans aged 6 to 15. The Asian Development Bank reports the Net Enrolment Rate in primary school enrolment as 87%, but only one-third of children aged 15 to 19 attend secondary school. In lower secondary school the attendance rate for girls is 10% higher than for boys. In the last 2 years of secondary school the attendance rate is reported to rise by 40%. Academic scholarships to attend universities or vocational training centres overseas are decided through competition.

A 3-year programme begins at age 3.

Primary school begins at age 6 and lasts 6 years. 50% of students are girls. The Gross Enrolment Rate is 99%. Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 63% reach the last grade of primary school.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and lasts 6 years.

30 Tuvaluan students are studying abroad, in New Zealand (23), the USA (5) and Italy (2).

Reports cite discrimination against persons with disabilities in education and in other state services. This is largely due to a lack of funding. Children aged 3 to 5, including disabled children, have equal access to preschool education. Participation is on a voluntary basis. The government pays the salaries of preschool teachers. The schools are run by parents and the community.

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; but the government has not established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government cooperates with the UNHCR.

The principal ethnic majority are the Polynesians, who are closely related to the Samoans and Tokelauans. Other minorities are Kiribati, a few Europeans and other Pacific islanders.

Reports do not cite restrictions or violations of academic freedom.

The bill of rights applies to all regardless of race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, sex, religious beliefs or lack of them. However, men and women are unequal in some areas. Land inheritance rights are based on customary practices, and sons inherit a greater share of property than daughters. In the wage economy, men have higher-paying positions than women.

Violence against women is reportedly rare, though women's rights groups report that social stigma makes it difficult to get accurate data on domestic violence. Sexual harassment is not cited as a problem and is not covered in legislation.

The minimum age for work is 14; children under 15 are not allowed to work in industrial employment or on ships, and youth under 18 cannot enter into formal work contracts. Children are employed in subsistence farming and fishing.

Workers have the right to form and join trade unions. The majority of workers are involved in subsistence labour. Public sector employees, including teachers and nurses, are members of professional associations that do not have union status. Collective bargaining is allowed but is not widely practised. Strikes are allowed, but none has ever taken place.

Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited and is not reported to occur. The minimum wage is insufficient to allow a worker and family to maintain a decent standard of living. The bi-weekly minimum wage in the public sector is US$98 (A$130). Some private sector employers have adopted the public sector minimum wage rate.