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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Status of International Law
- English
(1) In this section—
“international organisation” means an organisation whose membership consists of two or more independent States or in which two or more independent States are represented;
“international treaty” means a convention, treaty, protocol or agreement between one or more foreign States or governments or international organisations.
(2) An international treaty which has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority—
(a) does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament; and
(b) does not form part of the law of Zimbabwe unless it has been incorporated into the law through an Act of Parliament.
(3) Save for loan agreements and guarantees referred to in section 300(3) and (4) an agreement which is not an international treaty but which—
(a) has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities and imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe; and
(b) imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe;
does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament.
(4) An Act of Parliament may provide that subsections (2) and (3)—
(a) do not apply to any particular international treaty or agreement or to any class of such treaties or agreements; or
(b) apply with modifications in relation to any particular international treaty or agreement or to any class of such treaties or agreements.
(5) Parliament may by resolution declare that any particular international treaty or class of international treaties does not require approval under subsection (2), but such a resolution does not apply to treaties whose application or operation requires—
(a) the withdrawal or appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund; or
(b) any modification of the law of Zimbabwe.
(6) When interpreting legislation, every court and tribunal must adopt any reasonable interpretation of the legislation that is consistent with any international convention, treaty or agreement which is binding on Zimbabwe, in preference to an alternative interpretation inconsistent with that convention, treaty or agreement. (Sec. 327)
Status of International Law
- English…
(3) For the purposes of determining whether or not any law, matter or thing is reasonably justified in a democratic society that has a proper regard for the rights and dignity of mankind, a court may have regard to-
(a) the provisions of this Constitution generally, and especially the National Goals and Directive Principles and the Basic Social Obligations; and
(b) the Charter of the United Nations; and
(c) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and any other declaration, recommendation or decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
(d) the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Protocols thereto, and any other international conventions, agreements or declarations concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
(e) judgements, reports and opinions of the International Court of Justice, the European Commission of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights and other international courts and tribunals dealing with human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
(f) previous laws, practices and judicial decisions and opinions in the country; and
(g) laws, practices and judicial decisions and opinions in other countries; and
(h) the Final Report of the pre-Independence Constitutional Planning Committee dated 13 August 1974 and presented to the pre-Independence House of Assembly on 16 August 1974, as affected by decisions of that House on the report and by decisions of the Constituent Assembly on the draft of this Constitution; and
(i) declarations by the International Commission of Jurists and other similar organizations; and
(j) any other material that the court considers relevant. (Sec. 39)
Status of International Law
- EnglishThe Central African People, ...
Reiterating their will to cooperate in peace and amity with all States, to work for the African unity in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union adopted on 12 July 2000, to promote the peaceful regulation of differences between States with respect for Justice, for Equality, for Freedom and for the Sovereignty of Peoples;
Reaffirms their adherence to the Charter of the Organization of the United Nations, to the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man of 10 December 1948, to the International Pacts of 16 December 1966 concerning economic, social and cultural right on the one hand and civil and political rights on the other;
Reaffirms its commitment to the African Charter of the Rights of Man and of Peoples of 27 June 1981 and to the African Charter of the Democracy, of the Elections and of the Governance of 30 June 2007;
Reaffirms its adherence to all International Conventions duly ratified, notably those concerning the prohibition of all forms of discrimination with regard to women, to the protection of the rights of the child and those relative to the autochthonous and tribal peoples;
... (Preamble) - FrenchLE PEUPLE CENTRAFRICAIN, …
Réitérant sa volonté de coopérer dans la paix et l’amitié avec tous les Etats, d’œuvrer pour l’unité Africain conformément à l’acte Constitutif de l’Union Africaine adopté le 12 juillet 2000, de promouvoir le règlement pacifique des différends entre Etats dans le respect de la Justice, de l’Egalité, de la liberté et de la souveraineté des peuples;
Réaffirme son adhésion à la Charte de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, à la Déclaration Universelle des Droits de l’Homme du 10 décembre 1948, aux Pactes Internationaux du 16 décembre 1966 relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels d’une part et aux droits civils et politiques d’autre part;
Réaffirme son attachement à la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples du 27 juin 1981 et à la Charte Africaine de la Démocratie, des Elections et de la Gouvernance du 30 juin 2007;
Réaffirme son adhésion à toutes les Conventions Internationales dûment ratifiées notamment celles relatives à l’interdiction de toute forme de discrimination à l’égard des femmes, à la protection des droits de l’enfant et celles relatives aux peuples autochtones et tribaux;
… (Préambule)
Status of International Law
- EnglishTreaties or agreements duly ratified or approved shall, upon publication, prevail over Acts of Parliament, subject, with respect to each agreement or treaty, to its application by the other party. (1958 Constitution, Art. 55)
- FrenchLes traités ou accords régulièrement ratifiés ou approuvés ont, dès leur publication, une autorité supérieure à celle des lois, sous réserve, pour chaque accord ou traité, de son application par l'autre partie. (Constitution 1958, Art. 55)
Status of International Law
- EnglishThe international treaties existing prior to the Constitution, which do not contradict it, shall be maintained in the internal legal order with the rank of law. Within the period of four years after the election of the new Executive Organ, the Executive shall renounce and, in that case, renegotiate the international treaties that may be contrary to the Constitution. (Transitional Provisions, Ninth)
- SpanishLos tratados internacionales anteriores a la Constitución y que no la contradigan se mantendrán en el ordenamiento jurídico interno, con rango de ley. En el plazo de cuatro años desde la elección del nuevo Órgano Ejecutivo, éste denunciará y, en su caso, renegociará los tratados internacionales que sean contrarios a la Constitución. (Disposiciones Transitorias, Novena)
Status of International Law
- English1. The Republic of Angola shall be a nation dedicated to peace and progress and it shall be the duty of the state and the right and responsibility of all to guarantee peace and national security, respecting the Constitution and the law, in addition to international conventions.
… (Art. 11) - Portuguese1. A República de Angola é uma Nação de vocação para a paz e o progresso, sendo um dever do Estado e um direito e responsabilidade de todos garantir, com respeito pela Constituição e pela lei, bem como pelas convenções internacionais, a paz e a segurança nacional.
... (Art. 11)
Status of International Law
- English
If the Constitutional Council, referred [to the matter] by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly or of the Senate or by one-tenth at least of the Deputies or of the Senators, has declared that an international treaty or agreement includes a clause contrary to the Constitution, the authorization to ratify it can take place only after revision of the Constitution. (Art. 122)
- French
Si le Conseil constitutionnel, saisi par le Président de la République, le Président de l'Assemblée nationale ou du Sénat ou par un dixième au moins des députés ou des sénateurs, a déclaré qu'un traité ou un accord international comporte une clause contraire à la Constitution, l'autorisation de le ratifier ne peut intervenir qu'après la révision de la Constitution. (Art. 122)
Status of International Law
- English...
2) The Government shall issue the ordinances necessary to give effect to the laws and the directly applicable international treaties; these ordinances must remain within the scope of the laws and the directly applicable international treaties.
3) To implement other treaty obligations, the Government may issue the necessary ordinances, provided that no enactments of laws are required.
4) The entire National Administration itself may only act within the limits of the Constitution, the laws, and treaty provisions; even in matters in which the law grants the Administration free discretion, the limits imposed thereon by the laws must be strictly observed. (Art. 92) - German...
2) Sie erlässt die zur Durchführung der Gesetze und der direkt anwendbaren Staatsverträge erforderlichen Verordnungen, die nur im Rahmen der Gesetze und der direkt anwendbaren Staatsverträge erlassen werden dürfen.
3) Zur Umsetzung anderer staatsvertraglicher Verpflichtungen kann die Regierung die erforderlichen Verordnungen erlassen, soweit dazu keine Gesetzeserlasse nötig sind.
4) Die gesamte Landesverwaltung überhaupt hat sich innerhalb der Schranken der Verfassung, der Gesetze und staatsvertraglichen Regelungen zu bewegen, auch in jenen Angelegenheiten, in welchen das Gesetz der Verwaltung ein freies Ermessen einräumt, sind die demselben durch die Gesetze gezogenen Grenzen streng zu beobachten. (Art. 92)
Status of International Law
- English…
4. Religious marriages shall have civil effects in terms established by law, without prejudice to that dictated in international treaties.
… (Art. 55) - Spanish…
4) Los matrimonios religiosos tendrán efectos civiles en los términos que establezca la ley, sin perjuicio de lo dispuesto en los tratados internacionales;
… (Art. 55)
Status of International Law
- English
The organic laws and the regulations of the Chambers of the Parliament, before their promulgation or their entry into application [,] must be submitted to the Constitutional Council.
To the same ends, the ordinary laws and the treaties submitted to the procedure of ratification, may be deferred to the Constitutional Council, before their promulgation. (Art. 155) - French
Les lois organiques et les règlements des chambres du Parlement, avant leur promulgation ou leur mise en application, doivent être soumis au Conseil constitutionnel.
Aux mêmes fins, les lois ordinaires et les traités soumis à la procédure de ratification, peuvent être déférés au Conseil constitutionnel, avant leur promulgation. (Art. 155)