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Constitution of the Gabonese Republic 1991, as amended to 2023
Obligations of the State
- English
The Gabonese people,
…
Solemnly affirm their adherence to the rights of Man and to the fundamental freedoms such as they derive from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 and [from] the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, consecrated by the African Charter of the Rights of Man and of Peoples of 1981, and by the National Charter of Liberties of 1990;
Solemnly proclaim their adherence to their profound and traditional social values, to their cultural, material and spiritual patrimony, to respect for the freedoms, the rights and the duties of the citizen.
… (Preamble) - French
Le peuple gabonais,
…
Affirme solennellement son attachement aux droits de l’Homme et aux libertés fondamentales tels qu’ils résultent de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme et du citoyen de 1789 et de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme de 1948, consacrés par la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples de 1981, et par la Charte Nationale des Libertés de 1990;
Proclame solennellement son attachement à ses valeurs sociales profondes et traditionnelles, à son patrimoine culturel, matériel et spirituel, au respect des libertés, des droits et des devoirs du citoyen.
… (Préambule)
Obligations of the State
- English
The Gabonese Republic recognizes and guarantees the inviolable and imprescriptible rights of Man, which obligatorily constrain the public powers:
… (Art. 1) - French
La République Gabonaise reconnaît et garantit les droits inviolables et imprescriptibles de l’Homme, qui lient obligatoirement les pouvoirs publics:
… (Art. 1)
Obligations of the State
- English
Outside of the cases expressly provided for by the Constitution, the law establishes the rules concerning:
- the exercise of the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens;
… (Art. 47) - French
En dehors des cas expressément prévus par la Constitution, la loi fixe les règles concernant:
- l’exercice des droits fondamentaux et devoirs des citoyens;
… (Art. 47)
Obligations of Private Parties
- English
…
1) Each citizen has the right to the free development of their person with respect for the rights of others and of the public order.
… (Art. 1) - French
…
1°) Chaque citoyen a droit au libre développement de sa personnalité, dans le respect des droits d’autrui et de l’ordre public.
… (Art. 1)
Judicial Protection
- English
The Constitutional Court is the judge of the constitutionality of the laws and of the regularity of the elections. It guarantees the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms.
… (Art. 83)5 - French
La Cour constitutionnelle est la plus haute juridiction de l'État en matière constitutionnelle. Elle est juge de la constitutionnalité des lois et de la régularité des élections. Elle garantit les droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et les libertés publiques.
… (Art. 83)
Judicial Protection
- English
The Constitutional Court decides obligatorily on:
...
- the constitutionality of the organic laws and of the laws before their promulgation, of the ordinances as well as the regulatory acts [that] supposedly infringe the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms, after their publication;
... (Art. 84) - French
La Cour Constitutionnelle statue obligatoirement sur :
...
- la constitutionnalité des lois organiques et des lois avant leur promulgation, des ordonnances ainsi que des actes réglementaires censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques, après leur publication ;
... (Art. 84)
Judicial Protection
- English
Any justiciable [person] may, by way of a process before an ordinary tribunal, raise a pleadings [exception] of constitutionality against a law or an ordinance which affects recognition [méconnaîtrait] of their fundamental rights.
The presiding judge refers the Constitutional Court to [the matter] by way of prejudicial pleadings [préjudicielle exception].
… (Art. 86) - French
Tout justiciable peut, à l'occasion d'un procès devant un tribunal ordinaire, soulever une exception d'inconstitutionnalité à l’encontre d'une loi ou d'une ordonnance qui méconnaîtrait ses droits fondamentaux.
Le juge du siège saisit la Cour Constitutionnelle par voie d'exception préjudicielle.
… (Art. 86)
1
Constitution of the Gabonese Republic 1991, as amended to 2020 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024). Consolidated version as amended to 2023 not publicly available. According to Art. 2: “… The Gabonese Republic adopts French as the official working language. …”
3
There is a discrepancy between the English and French texts.
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There is a discrepancy between the English and French texts.
5
There is a discrepancy between the English and French texts.
6
Art. 4 as amended by 2023 Amendment; In-house translation by UN Women, 2024.
7
Art. 9 as amended by 2023 Amendment; In-house translation by UN Women, 2024.
8
Art. 10 as amended by 2023 Amendment; In-house translation by UN Women, 2024.
9
Art. 35 as amended by 2023 Amendment; In-house translation by UN Women, 2024.
10
There is a discrepancy between the English and French texts.
11
There is a discrepancy between the English and French texts.