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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.
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) In this section, discrimination refers to the treatment of different people in different ways wholly or mainly because of their different —
(a) races; or
(b) places of origin; or
(c) political opinions; or
(d) colours; or
(e) religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs, or
(f) disability; or
(g) sex
in such a way that one such person is for some such reason given more favourable treatment or less favourable treatment than another such person.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Part, and in particular to —
(a) the succeeding provisions of this section; and
(b) section 29 (Protection of Tuvaluan values, etc.); and
(c) section 31 (disciplined forces of Tuvalu); and
(d) section 32 (foreign disciplined forces); and
(e) section 33 (hostile disciplined forces); and
(f) section 36 (restrictions on certain rights and freedoms during public emergencies),
no-one shall be treated in a discriminatory manner.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a law so far as it makes provision —
…
(d) in respect of-
(i) adoption: or
(ii) marriage; or
(iii) divorce; or
(iv) burial; or
(v) any other such matter, in accordance with the personal law, beliefs or customs of any person or group; or
(e) in relation to land; or
(f) by which any person or group may be given favourable treatment or unfavourable treatment which, having regard to the nature of the treatment and to any special circumstances of the person or group, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society having a proper respect for human rights and dignity.
(4) Nothing in a law shall be considered to be inconsistent with subsection (2) to the extent that it makes provision for —
(a) standards or qualifications (not specifically related to any matter referred to in subsection (1)(a)-(e)) for appointment to any office or position in -
(i) a State Service; or
(ii) a disciplined force; or
(iii) the service of a local government or authority; or
(iv) a body corporate established by law for a public purpose, or the service of such a body; or
(b) localization within the meaning of section 142 (localization).
(5) Subsection (2) does not affect the exercise of any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance in a court of any proceedings that is vested in any person or authority by or under this Constitution or any other law.
(6) Nothing in or done under a law shall be considered to be inconsistent with subsection (2) to the extent that the law provides that any person may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by —
(a) section 21 (privacy of home and property); and
(b) section 23 (freedom of belief); and
(c) section 24 (freedom of expression); and
(d) section 25 (freedom of assembly and association); and
(e) section 26 (freedom of movement); and
(f) section 28 (other rights and freedoms),
to the extent authorized by that section.
(7) Subject to section 12(2) (which relates to harsh, oppressive or otherwise unlawful acts) and 15 (definition of “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society”) and to any other law, no act that —
(a) is in accordance with Tuvaluan custom; and
(b) is reasonable in the circumstances,
shall be considered to be inconsistent with subsection (2).
(8) Nothing in or done under a law shall be considered to be inconsistent with subsection (2)-
(a) if the law was in force in Tuvalu immediately before the date on which this Constitution took effect; or
(b) to the extent that the law repeals and re-enacts any provision that has been contained in a law in force in Tuvalu at all times since that date. (Sec. 27)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- 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; and
iii. the implementation of policies to address social issues such as domestic violence, security of the person, lack of maternity benefits, economic exploitation and rights to property.
… (Sec. 13)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English…
Considering that the liberty, the equality, and the dignity of Man cannot be assured except in a society which consecrates the primacy of law, concerned by creating durable conditions for a harmonious social evolution, respectful of the precepts of Islam, sole source of law and open to the exigencies of the modern world, the Mauritanian people proclaim, in particular, the intangible guarantee of the following rights and principles:
– the right to equality;
… (Preamble) - Arabic...
نظرا إلي أن الحريّة و المساواة و كرامة الإنسان يستحيل ضمانها إلا في ظل مجتمع يكرّس سيادة القانون، و حرصا منه على خلق الظروف الثابتة لنمو اجتماعي منسجم ، يحترم أحكام الدين الإسلامي ، المصدر الوحيد للقانون ، و يلائم متطلبات العالم الحديث ، يعلن الشعب الموريتاني على وجه الخصوص الضمان الأكيد للحقوق و المبادئ التالية:
- حق المساواة،
... (الدّيباجة) - French…
Considérant que la liberté, l'égalité et la dignité de l'Homme ne peuvent être assurées que dans une société qui consacre la primauté du droit, soucieux de créer les conditions durables d'une évolution sociale harmonieuse, respectueuse des préceptes de l'Islam, seule source de droit et ouverte aux exigences du monde moderne, le peuple mauritanien proclame, en particulier, la garantie intangible des droits et principes suivants :
- le droit à l’égalité ;
… (Préambule)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this article -
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and
(b) no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(2) In this article the expression ‘discriminatory’ means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their or their parents’ or guardians’ respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which other persons of the same or another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
(3) Paragraph (1)(a) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision -
…
(b) with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law; or
(c) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding paragraph may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable.
(4) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of paragraph (1)(a) to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to a person’s or his or her parents’ or guardians’ respective description by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture) to be required of any person who is appointed to any office in the public service, any office in a disciplined force, or any office in the service or of a local democratic organ or of a body corporate established by any law for public purposes.
(5) Paragraph (1)(b) shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorized to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in either of the two preceding paragraphs.
(6) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision -
(a) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in paragraph (2) may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by articles 143, 145, 146,147 and 148, being such a restriction as is authorised by article 143 (2), article 145(5), article 146(2), article 147(2) or article 148 (3), other than subparagraph (c) thereof, as the case may be;
(b) for the appropriation of revenue or other funds of Guyana; or
(c) for the protection, well-being or advancement of the Amerindians of Guyana.
(7) Paragraph (1)(b) shall not affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law. (Art. 149)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishEnjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognised for Belgians must be provided without discrimination. To this end, laws and federate laws guarantee among others the rights and freedoms of ideological and philosophical minorities. (Art. 11)
- DutchHet genot van de rechten en vrijheden aan de Belgen toegekend moet zonder discriminatie verzekerd worden. Te dien einde waarborgen de wet 8 en het decreet inzonderheid de rechten en vrijheden van de ideologische en filosofische minderheden. (Art. 11)
- FrenchLa jouissance des droits et libertés reconnus aux Belges doit être assurée sans discrimination. A cette fin, la loi et le décret garantissent notamment les droits et libertés des minorités idéologiques et philosophiques. (Art. 11)
- GermanDer Genuß der den Belgiern zuerkannten Rechte und Freiheiten muß ohne Diskriminierung gesichert werden. Zu diesem Zweck gewährleisten das Gesetz und das Dekret insbesondere die Rechte und Freiheiten der ideologischen und philosophischen Minderheiten. (Art. 11)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
All Burkinabe and all persons living in Burkina Faso benefit from an equal protection of the law.
… (Art. 4) - French
Tous les Burkinabè et toute personne vivant au Burkina Faso bénéficient d'une égale protection de la loi.
… (Art. 4)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishThe State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting, inter alia, policies aimed at the following:
(a) enactment of legislation to ensure equality of opportunity for women, to enable them to participate fully in all spheres of Namibian society;
… (Art. 95)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishAll Panamanians and aliens are equal before the Law, but the Law, for reasons of labor, health, morality, public security and national economy, may subject to special conditions, or may deny the exercise of specific activities to aliens in general. … (Art. 20)
- SpanishLos panameños y los extranjeros son iguales ante la Ley, pero ésta podrá, por razones de trabajo, de salubridad, moralidad, seguridad pública y economía nacional, subordinar a condiciones especiales o negar el ejercicio de determinadas actividades a los extranjeros en general. … (Art. 20)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishAll legislative privileges attaching to nobility, title, and rank shall be abolished. (Sec. 83)
- DanishEnhver i lovgivningen til adel, titel og rang knyttet forret er afskaffet. (§ 83)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English…
Consequently, We the Chadian People:
…
- Recognize the promotion of gender and of youth as factors of realization of equality between men and women within our country and [recognize] the imperative of taking them into account for lasting human development;
… (Preamble) - Arabic...
نحن شعب تشاد٫ك
...
- نعترف بتعزيز المساواة بين الجنسين والنهوض بالشباب كعامل لتحقيق المساواة بين المرأة والرجل في بلدنا ونعترف بضرورة أخذهم في الاعتبار من أجل التنمية البشرية المستدامة؛
... (الديباجة) - French…
En conséquence, Nous, Peuple Tchadien:
…
- Reconnaissons la promotion du genre et de la jeunesse comme facteur de réalisation de l'égalité entre hommes et femmes dans notre pays et l'impératif de sa prise en compte pour le développement humain durable;
… (Préambule)