Palau


Official Name: Belau/Palau
Population: 20,000
Capital: Ngerulmud1 - Pop. 5,000
Area: 459 sq. km. / 285 sq. miles.
Language: English, Palauan
Religion: Christian, Modekngei
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal
Telephone Country Code: 680

The Republic of Palau is a poor island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 2,000 miles (3,200 km) south of Tokyo. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship(administered by the United States) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states. In English, the name is sometimes spelled Belau in accordance with the native pronunciation. See CIA report on Palau.

Women have traditionally enjoyed high social status in Palau because inheritance of property and traditional rank is through female bloodlines. Women today hold several key traditional leadership posts. Domestic violence is common, according to the U.S. State Department report, and is often fueled by alcohol and illegal drug abuse. Foreigners make up nearly 30 percent of Palau's population and 73 percent of the paid workforce, according to the May 2000 census.

According to this site, only male homosexuality is illegal with penalties of up to 10 years in jail. Details are not explained here.

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