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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.
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Limitations and/or Derogations
Malawi
- English1. No derogation from rights contained in this Chapter8 shall be permissible save to the extent provided for by this section and no such derogation shall be made unless there has been a declaration of a state of emergency within the meaning of this section.
2. There shall be no derogation with regard to—
a. the right to life;
b. the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
c. the prohibition of genocide;
d. the prohibition of slavery, the slave trade and slave-like practices;
e. the prohibition of imprisonment for failure to meet contractual obligations;
f. the prohibition on retrospective criminalization and the retrospective imposition of greater penalties for criminal acts;
g. the right to equality and recognition before the law;
h. the right to freedom of conscience, belief, thought and religion and to academic freedom; or
i. the right to habeas corpus.
…
4. Derogation from the rights contained in this Chapter, other than the rights listed in subsection (2), shall be permissible during a state of emergency within the meaning of this section and to the extent that—
a. such derogation is consistent with the obligations of Malawi under international law; and
b. in the case of—
i. war or threat of war, it is strictly required to prevent the lives of defensive combatants and civilians as well as legitimate military objectives from being placed in direct jeopardy; or
ii. a widespread natural disaster, it is strictly required for the protection and relief of those people and facilities whether in or outside the disaster area.
… (Sec. 45)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Barbados
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this section—
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect;
…
(2) 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, political opinions, colour 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 which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
(3) Subsection (1)(a) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision—
…
(d) for authorising the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency;
… (Sec. 23)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Portugal
- English1. Entities that exercise sovereignty may not jointly or separately suspend the exercise of the rights, freedoms and guarantees, save in the case of a state of siege or a state of emergency declared in the form provided for in the Constitution.
…
4. Both the choice between a state of siege and a state of emergency and the declaration and implementation thereof must respect the principle of proportionality and limit themselves, particularly as regards their extent and duration and the means employed, to that which is strictly necessary for the prompt restoration of constitutional normality.
5. Declarations of a state of siege or a state of emergency shall set out adequate grounds therefore and specify the rights, freedoms and guarantees whose exercise is to be suspended. Without prejudice to the possibility of renewals subject to the same limits, neither state may last for more than fifteen days, or, when it results from a declaration of war, for more than the duration laid down by law.
6. In no case may a declaration of a state of siege or a state of emergency affect the rights to life, personal integrity, personal identity, civil capacity and citizenship, the non-retroactivity of the criminal law, accused persons' right to a defence, or the freedom of conscience and religion.
7. Declarations of a state of siege or a state of emergency may only alter constitutional normality in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the law. In particular, they may not affect the application of the constitutional rules concerning the competences and modus operandi of the entities that exercise sovereignty or of the self-government organs of the autonomous regions, or the rights and immunities of the respective officeholders.
... (Art. 19) - Portuguese1. Os órgãos de soberania não podem, conjunta ou separadamente, suspender o exercício dos direitos, liberdades e garantias, salvo em caso de estado de sítio ou de estado de emergência, declarados na forma prevista na Constituição.
...
4. A opção pelo estado de sítio ou pelo estado de emergência, bem como as respectivas declaração e execução, devem respeitar o princípio da proporcionalidade e limitar-se, nomeadamente quanto às suas extensão e duração e aos meios utilizados, ao estritamente necessário ao pronto restabelecimento da normalidade constitucional.
5. A declaração do estado de sítio ou do estado de emergência é adequadamente fundamentada e contém a especificação dos direitos, liberdades e garantias cujo exercício fica suspenso, não podendo o estado declarado ter duração superior a quinze dias, ou à duração fixada por lei quando em consequência de declaração de guerra, sem prejuízo de eventuais renovações, com salvaguarda dos mesmos limites.
6. A declaração do estado de sítio ou do estado de emergência em nenhum caso pode afectar os direitos à vida, à integridade pessoal, à identidade pessoal, à capacidade civil e à cidadania, a não retroactividade da lei criminal, o direito de defesa dos arguidos e a liberdade de consciência e de religião.
7. A declaração do estado de sítio ou do estado de emergência só pode alterar a normalidade constitucional nos termos previstos na Constituição e na lei, não podendo nomeadamente afectar a aplicação das regras constitucionais relativas à competência e ao funcionamento dos órgãos de soberania e de governo próprio das regiões autónomas ou os direitos e imunidades dos respectivos titulares.
... (Art. 19)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Chile
- English...
The exercise of sovereignty recognizes as a limitation the respect for the essential rights which emanate from human nature. It is the duty of the organs of the State to respect and promote those rights, guaranteed by this Constitution, as well as by the international treaties ratified by Chile and which are in force. (Art. 5) - Spanish...
El ejercicio de la soberanía reconoce como limitación el respeto a los derechos esenciales que emanan de la naturaleza humana. Es deber de los órganos del Estado respetar y promover tales derechos, garantizados por esta Constitución, así como por los tratados internacionales ratificados por Chile y que se encuentren vigentes. (Art. 5)
Limitations and/or Derogations
India
- English(1) Where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation, the President may by order declare that the right to move any court for the enforcement of such of the rights conferred by Part III (except articles 20 and 21) as may be mentioned in the order and all proceedings pending in any court for the enforcement of the rights so mentioned shall remain suspended for the period during which the Proclamation is in force or for such shorter period as may be specified in the order.
(1A) While an order made under clause (1) mentioning any of the rights conferred by Part III (except articles 20 and 21) is in operation, nothing in that Part conferring those rights shall restrict the power of the State as defined in the said Part to make any law or to take any executive action which the State would but for the provisions contained in that Part be competent to make or to take, but any law so made shall, to the extent of the incompetency, cease to have effect as soon as the order aforesaid ceases to operate, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before the law so ceases to have effect:
Provided that where a Proclamation of Emergency is in operation only in any part of the territory of India, any such law may be made, or any such executive action may be taken, under this article in relation to or in any State or Union territory in which or in any part of which the Proclamation of Emergency is not in operation, if and in so far as the security of India or any part of the territory thereof is threatened by activities in or in relation to the part of the territory of India in which the Proclamation of Emergency is in operation.
… (Art. 359) - Hindi(1) जहां आपात की उद्घोषणा प्रवर्तन में है वहाँ राष्ट्रपति, आदेश द्वारा यह घोषणा कर सकेगा कि अनुच्छेद 20 और अनुच्छेद 21 को छोड़ कर भाग 3 द्वारा प्रदत्त ऐसे अधिकारों को प्रवर्तित कराने के लिए, जो उस आदेश में उल्लिखित किए जाएँ, किसी न्यायालय को समावेदन करने का आधिकार और इस प्रकार उल्लिखित अधिकारों को प्रवर्तित कराने के लिए किसी न्यायालय में लंबित सभी कार्यवाहियाँ उस अवधि के लिए जिसके दौरान उद्घोषणा प्रवृत्त रहती है या उससे लघुतर ऐसी अवधि के लिए जो आदेश में विनिर्दिष्ट की जाए, निलंबित रहेंगी।
(1क) जब अनुच्छेद 20 और अनुच्छेद 21 को छोड़ कर भाग 3 द्वारा प्रदत्त किन्हीं अधिकारों को उल्लिखित करने वाला खंड (1) के अधीन किया गया आदेश प्रवर्तन में है तब उस भाग में उन अधिकारों को प्रदान करने वाली कोई बात उस भाग में यथापरिभाषित राज्य की कोई विधि बनाने की या कोई ऐसी कार्यपालिका कार्रवाई करने की शक्ति को, जिसे वह राज्य उस भाग में अंतर्विष्ट उपबंधों के अभाव में बनाने या करने के लिए सक्षम होता, निर्बंधित नहीं करेगी, किन्तु इस प्रकार बनाई गई कोई विधि पूर्वोक्त आदेश के प्रवर्तन में रहने पर अक्षमता की मात्रा तक उन बातों के सिवाय तुरंत प्रभावहीन हो जाएगी, जिन्हें विधि के इस प्रकार प्रभावहीन होने के पहले किया गया है या करने का लोप किया गया है:
परंतु जहां आपात की उद्घोषणा भारत के राज्यक्षेत्र के केवल किसी भाग में प्रवर्तन में है वहाँ, यदि और जहां तक भारत या उसके राज्यक्षेत्र के किसी भाग की सुरक्षा, भारत के राज्यक्षेत्र के उस भाग में या उसके संबंध में, जिसमें आपात की उद्घोषणा प्रवर्तन में है, होने वाले क्रियाकलाप के कारण संकट में है तो और वहाँ तक, ऐसे राज्य या संघ राज्यक्षेत्र में या उसके संबंध में, जिसमें या जिसके किसी भाग में आपात की उद्घोषणा प्रवर्तन में नहीं है, इस अनुच्छेद के अधीन ऐसी कोई विधि बनाई जा सकेगी या ऐसी कोई कार्यपालिका कार्रवाई की जा सकेगी।
… (अनुच्छेद 359)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Slovenia
- EnglishHuman rights and fundamental freedoms provided by this Constitution may exceptionally be temporarily suspended or restricted during a war and state of emergency. Human rights and fundamental freedoms may be suspended or restricted only for the duration of the war or state of emergency, but only to the extent required by such circumstances and inasmuch as the measures adopted do not create inequality based solely on race, national origin, sex, language, religion, political or other conviction, material standing, birth, education, social status or any other personal circumstance.
The provision of the preceding paragraph does not allow any temporary suspension or restriction of the rights provided by Articles 17, 18, 21, 27, 28, 29 and 41. (Art. 16) - SloveneS to ustavo določene človekove pravice in temeljne svoboščine je izjemoma dopustno začasno razveljaviti ali omejiti v vojnem in izrednem stanju. Človekove pravice in temeljne svoboščine se smejo razveljaviti ali omejiti le za čas trajanja vojnega ali izrednega stanja, vendar v obsegu, ki ga tako stanje zahteva, in tako, da sprejeti ukrepi ne povzročajo neenakopravnosti, ki bi temeljila le na rasi, narodni pripadnosti, spolu, jeziku, veri, političnem ali drugem prepričanju, gmotnem stanju, rojstvu, izobrazbi, družbenem položaju ali katerikoli drugi osebni okoliščini.
Določba prejšnjega odstavka ne dopušča nobenega začasnega razveljavljanja ali omejevanja pravic, določenih v 17., 18., 21., 27., 28., 29. in 41. členu. (16. Člen)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Dominican Republic
- EnglishAll persons have the right to an action of amparo in order to demand before the courts, for themselves or by those who act in their name, immediate protection of their fundamental rights, not protected by habeas corpus, when they are violated or threatened by the action or omission of any public authority or of individuals, in order put into effect the fulfillment of a law or administrative act and in order to guarantee collective and diffuse rights and interests. In accordance with the law, the proceeding is preferential, summary, oral, public, free, and not subject to formalities.
Paragraph
The acts adopted during the States of Exception that violate protected rights that unreasonably cause suspended rights are subject to actions of amparo. (Art. 72) - SpanishToda persona tiene derecho a una acción de amparo para reclamar ante los tribunales, por sí o por quien actúe en su nombre, la protección inmediata de sus derechos fundamentales, no protegidos por el hábeas corpus, cuando resulten vulnerados o amenazados por la acción o la omisión de toda autoridad pública o de particulares, para hacer efectivo el cumplimiento de una ley o acto administrativo, para garantizar los derechos e intereses colectivos y difusos. De conformidad con la ley, el procedimiento es preferente, sumario, oral, público, gratuito y no sujeto a formalidades.
Párrafo.- Los actos adoptados durante los Estados de Excepción que vulneren derechos protegidos que afecten irrazonablemente derechos suspendidos están sujetos a la acción de amparo. (Art. 72)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Kuwait
- EnglishProvisions relating to the Amiri Regime in Kuwait and the principles of liberty and equality stipulated in this Constitution may not be proposed for amendment unless such amendment concerns the title of the Amirate mutato nomine or an increase of the guarantees of liberty and equality. (Art. 175)
- Arabicالأحكام الخاصة بالنظام الأميري للكويت وبمبادىء الحرية والمساواة المنصوص عليها في هذا الدستور لا يجوز اقتراح تنقيحها، ما لم يكن التنقيح خاصاً بلقب الإمارة أو بالمزيد من ضمانات الحرية والمساواة. (المادّة 175)
Limitations and/or Derogations
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- English…
(5) Emergency regulations may not amend—
…
(b) the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42). (Civil Contingencies Act 2004, Sec. 23)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Guatemala
- EnglishIt is the obligation of the State and of the authorities, [to] maintain the inhabitants of the Nation, in the complete enjoyment of their rights guaranteed by the Constitution. However, in case of invasion of the territory, [of] grave disturbance of the peace, of activities against the security of the State or of public calamity, the State can suspend the full force of the rights referred to in Articles 5, 6, 9, 26, 33, paragraph one of Article 35, paragraph two of Article 38 and paragraph two of Article 116.
On determining [concurrir] the existence of any of the cases indicated in the paragraph above, the President of the Republic will make the appropriate declaration by means of a decree dictated by the Council of Ministers and the provisions of the Law of Public Order [Ley de Orden Público] will be applied. In a state of prevention [estado de prevención], this formality will not be necessary.
The decree will specify:
a. The motives that justify it;
b. The rights that may not be fully assured;
c. The territory that it affects; and
d. The time that its validity will last.
Furthermore, within the decree itself, the Congress will be convoked, so that within a term of three days, it may take cognizance of the document, ratify it, amend it, or disapprove it. If the Congress is in session, it must take cognizance of it immediately.
The effects of the decree may not exceed thirty days on each occasion. If before the expiration of this deadline the causes motivating the decree should no longer apply, its effects will be terminated for this reason and any citizen will have the right to seek its revision. Should the 30-day deadline be reached, the full validity of the rights will automatically be reestablished, unless a new decree in the same sense is dictated. When Guatemala faces a real state of war, the decree will not be subject to the time limits mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Once the causes that motivated the decree referred to in this Article should no longer apply, any person will have the right to infer the legal responsibilities that are consequent, for unnecessary acts and measures unauthorized by the Law of Public Order. (Art. 138) - SpanishEs obligación del Estado y de las autoridades, mantener a los habitantes de la Nación, en el pleno goce de los derechos que la Constitución garantiza. Sin embargo, en caso de invasión del territorio, de perturbación grave de la paz, de actividades contra la seguridad del Estado o calamidad pública, podrá cesar la plana vigencia de los derechos a que se refieren los artículo 5º, 6º, 9º, 26º, 33º, primer párrafo del artículo 35º, segundo párrafo del artículo 38º y segundo párrafo del artículo 116º.
Al concurrir cualquiera de los casos que se indican en el párrafo anterior, el Presidente de la República, hará la declaratoria correspondiente, por medio de decreto dictado en Consejo de Ministros y se aplicarán las disposiciones de la Ley de Orden Público. En el estado de prevención, no será necesaria esta formalidad.
Decreto especificará:
a) Los motivos que lo justifiquen;
b) Los derechos que no puedan asegurarse en su plenitud;
c) El territorio que afecte; y
d) El tiempo que durará su vigencia.
Además, en el propio decreto, se convocará al Congreso, para que dentro del término de tres días, lo conozca, lo ratifique, modifique o impruebe. En caso de que el Congreso estuviere reunido, deberá conocerlo inmediatamente.
Los efectos del decreto no podrán exceder de treinta días por cada vez. Si antes de que venza el plazo señalado, hubieren desaparecido las causas que motivaron el decreto, se le hará cesar en sus efectos y para este fin, todo ciudadano tiene derecho a pedir su revisión. Vencido el plazo de treinta días, automáticamente queda reestablecida la vigencia plena de los derechos, salvo que se hubiere dictado nuevo decreto en igual sentido. Cuando Guatemala afronte un estado real de guerra, el decreto no estará sujeto a las limitaciones de tiempo, consideradas en el párrafo anterior.
Desaparecidas las causas que motivaron el decreto a que se refiere este artículo, toda persona tiene derecho a deducir las responsabilidades legales procedentes, por los actos innecesarios y medidas no autorizadas por la Ley de Orden Público. (Art. 138)