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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.
ABOUT 13212 RESULTS
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Kenya
- EnglishParliament shall enact legislation to promote the representation in Parliament of—
(a) women;
(b) persons with disabilities;
(c) youth;
(d) ethnic and other minorities; and
(e) marginalised communities. (Art. 100) - SwahiliBunge litatunga sheria ili kuimarisha uwakilishi Bungeni wa—
(a) wanawake;
(b) watu wenye ulemavu;
(c) vijana;
(d) kabila na watu wengine wenye uwakilishi mdogo katika jamii; na
(e) jamii zilizotengwa. (Kifungu cha 100)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- English(1) Subject to subsections (4), (5) and (7), no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
(3) In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, birth out of wedlock, political opinions or affiliations, colour, sex or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages that are not accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
…
(d) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
… (Sec. 15)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Mexico
- English...
A. This Constitution recognizes and guarantees the right of indigenous peoples and communities to self-determination and, consequently, to the autonomy to:
...
VII. Elect, in the municipalities with indigenous population, representatives to the ayuntamientos [local or town councils], observing the principle of parity of gender in accordance with the applicable norms.
The constitutions and laws of the federative entities recognize and regulate these rights in the municipalities, with the aim of strengthening the political participation and representation in accordance with their traditions and internal norms.
... (Art. 2) - Spanish...
A. Esta Constitución reconoce y garantiza el derecho de los pueblos y las comunidades indígenas a la libre determinación y, en consecuencia, a la autonomía para:
...
VII. Elegir, en los municipios con población indígena, representantes ante los ayuntamientos, observando el principio de paridad de género conforme a las normas aplicables.
Las constituciones y leyes de las entidades federativas reconocerán y regularán estos derechos en los municipios, con el propósito de fortalecer la participación y representación política de conformidad con sus tradiciones y normas internas.
... (Art. 2)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Nepal
- English(1) All citizens shall be equal before law. No person shall be denied the equal protection of law.
(2) No discrimination shall be made in the application of general laws on grounds of origin, religion, race, caste, tribe, sex, physical condition, condition of health, marital status, pregnancy, economic condition, language or region, ideology or on similar other grounds.
(3) The State shall not discriminate citizens on grounds of origin, religion, race, caste, tribe, sex, economic condition, language, region, ideology or on similar other grounds.
Provided that nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of special provisions by law for the protection, empowerment or development of the citizens including the socially or culturally backward women, Dalit, indigenous people, indigenous nationalities, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim, oppressed class, Pichhada class, minorities, the marginalized, farmers, labours, youths, children, senior citizens, gender and sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, persons in pregnancy, incapacitated or helpless, backward region and indigent Khas Arya.
… (Art. 18) - Nepali(१) सबै नागरिक कानूनको दृष्टिमा समान हुनेछन् । कसैलाई पनि कानूनको समान संरक्षणबाट वञ्चित गरिने छैन ।
(२) सामान्य कानूनको प्रयोगमा उत्पत्ति, धर्म, वर्ण, जात, जाति, लिंग, शारीरिक अवस्था, अपांगता, स्वास्थ्य स्थिति, वैवाहिक स्थिति, गर्भावस्था, आरक अवस्था, भाषा वा क्षेत्र, वैचारिक आस्था वा यस्तै अन्य कुनै आधारमा भेदभाव गरिने छैन ।
(३) राज्यले नागरिकहरूका बीच उत्पत्ति, धर्म, वर्ण, जात, जाति, लिंग,आर्थिक अवस्था, भाषा, क्षेत्र, वैचारिक आस्था वा यस्तै अन्य कुनै आधारमा भेदभाव गर्ने छैन ।
तर सामाजिक वा सांस्कृतिक दृष्टिले पिछडिएका महिला, दलित, आदिवासी, आदिवासी जनजाति, मधेशी, थारू, मुस्लिम, उत्पीडित वर्ग, पिछडा वर्ग, अल्पसंख्यक, सीमान्तीकृत, किसान, श्रमिक, युवा, बालबालिका, ज्येष्ठ नागरिक, लैंगिक तथा यौनिक अल्पसंख्यक, अपांगता भएका व्यक्ति, गर्भावस्थाका व्यक्ति, अशक्त वा असहाय, पिछडिएको क्षेत्र र आर्थिक रूपले विपन्न खस आर्य लगायत नागरिकको संरक्षण, सशक्तीकरण वा विकासका लागि कानून बमोजिम विशेष व्यवस्था गर्न रोक लगाएको मानिने छैन ।
... (धारा १८)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Canada
- English…
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the aboriginal and treaty rights referred to in subsection (1) are guaranteed equally to male and female persons. (Constitution Act 1982, Sec. 35) - French…
(4) Indépendamment de toute autre disposition de la présente loi, les droits — ancestraux ou issus de traités — visés au paragraphe (1) sont garantis également aux personnes des deux sexes. (Loi constitutionnelle de 1982, Sec. 35)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- EnglishThe public powers see to the elimination of any form of discrimination concerning women and assure the protection and the promotion of their rights.
They take, in all the domains, notably in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural domains, all the measures appropriate to assure the total realization and full participation of women in the development of the Nation.
They take measures to struggle against all forms of violence made against women in public and in private life.
Women have the right to an equitable representation within the national, provincial and local institutions. The State guarantees the implementation of man-woman parity in these said institutions.
The law establishes the modalities of application of these rights. (Art. 14) - FrenchLes pouvoirs publics veillent à l’élimination de toute forme de discrimination à l’égard de la femme et assurent la protection et la promotion de ses droits.
Ils prennent, dans tous les domaines, notamment dans les domaines civil, politique, économique, social et culturel, toutes les mesures appropriées pour assurer le total épanouissement et la pleine participation de la femme au développement de la nation.
Ils prennent des mesures pour lutter contre toute forme de violences faites à la femme dans la vie publique et dans la vie privée.
La femme a droit à une représentation équitable au sein des institutions nationales, provinciales et locales.
L’Etat garantit la mise en oeuvre de la parité homme-femme dans lesdites institutions.
La loi fixe les modalités d’application de ces droits. (Art. 14)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Sri Lanka
- English…
(4) Nothing in this Article shall prevent special provision being made, by law, subordinate legislation or executive action, for the advancement of women, children or disabled persons. (Art. 12) - Sinhala…
(4) කාන්තාවන්ගේ, ළමයින්ගේ හෝ අබල තැනැත්තන්ගේ ප්රගතිය සඳහා නීතියෙන් හෝ අනු නීතිවලින් හෝ විධායක ක්රියා මාර්ගයෙන් හෝ විශේෂ විධිවිධාන සැලැස්වීම මේ ව්යවස්ථාවෙන් කිසිසේත් අවහිර නොවන්නේ ය. (12 වැනි වගන්තිය)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Romania
- English…
(3) Access to public, civil, or military positions or dignities may be granted, according to the law, to persons whose citizenship is Romanian and whose domicile is in Romania. The Romanian State shall guarantee equal opportunities for men and women to occupy such positions and dignities.
... (Art. 16) - Romanian…
(3) Funcţiile şi demnităţile publice, civile sau militare, pot fi ocupate, în condiţiile legii, de persoanele care au cetăţenia română şi domiciliul în ţară. Statul român garantează egalitatea de şanse între femei şi bărbaţi pentru ocuparea acestor funcţii şi demnităţi.
… (Art. 16)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Malawi
- EnglishThe State shall actively promote the welfare and development of the people of Malawi by progressively adopting and implementing policies and legislation aimed at achieving the following goals—
a. Gender Equality
To obtain gender equality through—
(i) full participation of women in all spheres of Malawian society on the basis of equal opportunities with men;
(ii) the implementation of the principles of nondiscrimination and such other measures as may be required;
… (Sec. 13)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Namibia
- English...
(2) Nothing contained in Article 10 hereof shall prevent Parliament from enacting legislation providing directly or indirectly for the advancement of persons within Namibia who have been socially, economically or educationally disadvantaged by past discriminatory laws or practices, or for the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational imbalances in the Namibian society arising out of discriminatory laws or practices, or for achieving a balanced structuring of the public service, the defence force, the police force, and the correctional service.
(3) In the enactment of legislation and the application of any policies and practices contemplated by Sub-Article (2) hereof, it shall be permissible to have regard to the fact that women in Namibia have traditionally suffered special discrimination and that they need to be encouraged and enabled to play a full, equal and effective role in the political, social, economic and cultural life of the nation. (Art. 23)