Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a federal parliamentary government. In a May 2011 free and fair multiparty federal election, the Conservative Party, led by Stephen Harper, won a majority of seats in the federal parliament and formed a government. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces, which did not commit human rights abuses. There were no reports of widespread or systemic human rights abuses. The principal human rights problems included violence against women, alleged disparities in access to government services between indigenous and nonindigenous peoples, and trafficking in persons. The government took steps to prosecute and punish all government officials who committed abuses.