SEARCH DATABASE
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.
National level
- English(1) For the purposes of the election of women Members of Parliament mentioned in Article 66(1) (b), political parties which took part in the general election in accordance with the procedure laid down and obtained at least five percentum of the total valid voters for Parliamentary election, shall propose to the Electoral Commission the names of women on the basis of the proportion of votes obtained by each party in the Parliamentary election.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subarticle (1), the following votes shall be counted as valid votes for the unopposed Member of Parliament in the constituent –
(a) where a political party has nominated a Presidential candidate, presidential votes cast in the constituency for a Presidential candidate from that political party; or
(b) where a political party has not nominated a presidential candidate, fifty one percentum of the votes of the total voters registered in the respective constituency.
(3) The names of the persons proposed to the Electoral Commission in accordance with subarticle (1) shall be declared to be the results of the election after the Commission is satisfied that the relevant provisions of the Constitution and of other legislation have been complied with.
(4) The list of names for women candidates submitted to the Electoral Commission by each political party for general election shall be the list to be applied by the Electoral Commission after consultation of the party concerned, for purpose of filling any vacancy of Members of Parliament of this category whenever the vacancy occurs during the life of Parliament. (Art. 78)
National level
- English
The House of Representatives is composed of no less than four hundred and fifty members elected by direct secret public ballot. At least one quarter of the seats shall be allocated to women.
… (Art. 102) - Arabic
یُشكل مجلس النواب من عدد لا یقل عن أربعمائة وخمسین عضوا، یُنتخبون بالاقتراع العام السرى المباشر، على أن یُخصص للمرأة ما لا یقل عن ربع إجمالي عدد المقاعد.
… (المادّة 102)
National level
- English...
4. All levels of government shall:
a. promote women participation in public life and their representation in the legislative and executive organs by at least twenty-five per cent5 as an affirmative action to redress imbalances created by history, customs, and traditions;
… (Art. 16)
National level
- English(1) The Senate consists of eighty Senators, of whom—
(a) six are elected from each of the provinces into which Zimbabwe is divided, by a system of proportional representation conforming with subsection (2);
(b) sixteen are Chiefs, of whom two are elected by the provincial assembly of Chiefs from each of the provinces, other than the metropolitan provinces, into which Zimbabwe is divided;
(c) the President and Deputy President of the National Council of Chiefs; and
(d) two are elected in the manner prescribed in the Electoral Law to represent persons with disabilities.
(2) Elections of Senators must be conducted in accordance with the Electoral Law, which must ensure that the Senators referred to in subsection (1)(a) are elected under a party-list system of proportional representation—
(a) which is based on the votes cast for candidates representing political parties in each of the provinces in the general election for Members of the National Assembly; and
(b) in which male and female candidates are listed alternately, every list being headed by a female candidate. (Sec. 120)
National level
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Assembly shall consist of not more than seventy-six members composed as follows –
(a) not more than sixty members elected from tinkhundla areas serving as constituencies;
(b) not more than ten members nominated by the King acting in his discretion after consultation with such bodies as the King may deem appropriate;
(c) four female members specially elected from the four Regions subject to subsection (3);
(d) the Attorney-General who shall be an ex officio member.
(2) The nominated members of the House shall be appointed by the King −
(a) so that at least half of them are female; and
(b) so as to represent interests, including marginalized groups, not already adequately represented in the House.
(3) The members elected on a regional basis, under subsection (1)(c), shall continue to be so elected, whenever the provisions of section 86 (1) are true, in terms of the following paragraphs −
(a) at the instance of the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the elected members from each Region shall on their first meeting nominate not less than three and not more than five women from each Region qualified to be members of Parliament;
(b) the list of nominated candidates shall be published in at least two local newspapers and the electronic media on at least three consecutive days; and
(c) after ten days from the date of last publication the House shall meet to vote for one woman from each of the Regions, taking into consideration any relevant in-put in terms of paragraph (b). (Sec. 95)11
National level
- English(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Article, there shall be the following categories of Members of Parliament, that is to say:-
(a) members elected to represent constituencies;
(b) women members being not less than thirty percentum of all the members mentioned in paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) with qualifications mentioned in Article 67 elected by the political parties in accordance with Article 78, on the basis of proportion of votes;
(c) five members elected by the House of Representatives from among its members;
(d) the Attorney General;
(e) not more than ten members appointed by the President from amongst persons with qualifications specified under paragraphs (a) and (c) of subarticle (1) of Article 67 and, at least five members amongst them shall be women; and
(f) the Speaker, if he is not elected from amongst the members.
… (Art. 66)
National level
- English(1) The Senate consists of—
…
(b) sixteen women members who shall be nominated by political parties according to their proportion of members of the Senate elected under clause (a) in accordance with Article 90;
(c) two members, being one man and one woman, representing the youth;
(d) two members, being one man and one woman, representing persons with disabilities;
… (Art. 98) - Swahili(1) Bunge la Seneti linajumuisha—
...
(b) wajumbe wanawake kumi na sita watakaoteuliwa na vyama vya siasa kulingana na idadi yao ya wajumbe wa Seneti waliochaguliwa chini ya ibara ya (a) kwa mujibu wa Kifungu cha 90;
(c) wajumbe wawili, mmoja akiwa mwanaume na mmoja mwanamke, wakiwawakilisha vijana;
(d) wajumbe wawili, mmoja akiwa mwanaume anayewakilisha watu wenye ulemavu;
… (Kifungu cha 98)
National level
- EnglishThe Senate is composed of:
1) Two delegates from each province, elected by an electoral college composed of members of the Communal Councils of the considered province, originating from different ethnic communities and elected by distinct ballots;
2) Three persons originating from the Twa ethnicity;
A minimum of 30% of women is assured. The electoral law determines the practical modalities of it, with co-optation the case arising. (Art. 185) - KirundiAbagize Inama nkenguzamateka ni aba:
1° abantu babiri baserukira intara imwe imwe batowe n’abaserukira abandi mu makomine agize iyo ntara bo mu moko adasa kandi badatorewe ku rutonde rumwe;
2° abantu batatu bo mu bwoko bw’abatwa;
Mu bagize Inama Nkenguzamateka hategerezwa kubamwo n’imiburiburi ibice 30% vy’abagore. Ibwirizwa rigenga amatora rirerekana ingene bigenda mukubishira mu ngiro bikenewe hakongerwako kugira ibitigiri bikwire. (Ingingo ya 185) - FrenchLe Sénat est composé de :
1° Deux délégués de chaque province, élus par un collège électoral composé de membres des Conseils communaux de la province considérée, provenant de communautés ethniques différentes et élus par des scrutins distincts;
2° Trois personnes issues de l’ethnie Twa;
Il est assuré un minimum de 30% de femmes. La loi électorale en détermine les modalités pratiques, avec cooptation le cas échéant. (Art. 185)
National level
- EnglishThe Senate is composed of twenty-six (26) Senators elected or appointed as follows:
1° twelve (12) Senators elected by specific electoral colleges in accordance with national administrative entities;
2° eight (8) Senators appointed by the President of the Republic, giving particular consideration to the principles of national unity, the representation of historically marginalised groups, and any other national interests;
3° four (4) Senators designated by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations;
4° one (1) academician or researcher from public universities and institutions of higher learning, holding at least the rank of Associate Professor, elected by the academic and research staff of the same universities and institutions;
5° one (1) academician or researcher from private universities and institutions of higher learning, holding at least the rank of Associate Professor, elected by the academic and research staff of the same universities and institutions.
…
The organs responsible for the nomination of Senators take into account national unity and the principle of gender equality.
At least thirty percent (30%) of elected and appointed Senators must be women.
… (Art. 80) - KinyarwandaSena igizwe n’Abasenateri makumyabiri na batandatu (26) batorwa cyangwa bashyirwaho ku buryo bukurikira:
1° cumi na babiri (12) batorwa n’inzego zihariye, hakurikijwe inzego z’imitegekere y’Igihugu;
2° umunani (8) bashyirwaho na Perezida wa Repubulika, by’umwihariko akita ku bumwe bw’Abanyarwanda, ku ihagararirwa ry’igice cy’Abanyarwanda amateka agaragaza ko basigaye inyuma no ku zindi nyungu rusange z’Igihugu;
3° bane (4) bashyirwaho n’Ihuriro ry’Igihugu Nyunguranabitekerezo ry’Imitwe ya Politiki ;
4° Umwarimu umwe (1) cyangwa umushakashatsi umwe (1) wo muri Kaminuza no mu Mashuri Makuru bya Leta uri ku rwego nibura rw’umwarimu wungirije utorwa n’abarimu n’abashakashatsi bo muri ibyo bigo;
5° umwarimu umwe (1) cyangwa umushakashatsi umwe (1) wo muri Kaminuza no mu Mashuri Makuru byigenga nibura uri ku rwego rw’umwarimu wungirije utorwa n’abarimu n’abashakashatsi bo muri ibyo bigo.
…
Inzego zishinzwe kugena abagomba kujya muri Sena zigomba kwita ku bumwe bw’Abanyarwanda n’ihame ry’uburinganire.
Nibura mirongo itatu ku ijana (30%) by’Abasenateri batorwa n’Abasenateri bashyirwaho bagomba kuba ari ab’igitsina gore.
… (Ingingo ya 80) - FrenchLe Sénat est composé de vingt-six (26) Sénateurs élus ou désignés comme suit :
1° douze (12) Sénateurs élus par des collèges électoraux spécifiques, en fonction des entités administratives du pays;
2° huit (8) Sénateurs nommés par le Président de la République, tenant compte en particulier à l’unité nationale, la représentation des groupes historiquement marginalisés et aux autres intérêts nationaux;
3° quatre (4) Sénateurs nommés par le Forum National de Concertation des Formations Politiques ;
4° un (1) enseignant ou chercheur issu des universités et institutions d’enseignement supérieur publiques ayant au moins le grade académique de Professeur Associé, élu par le corps académique et de recherche de ces universités et institutions;
5° un (1) enseignant ou chercheur issu des universités et institutions d’enseignement supérieur privées ayant au moins le grade académique de Professeur Associé, élu par le corps académique et de recherche de ces universités et institutions.
…
Les organes chargés de désigner les Sénateurs sont tenus de prendre en considération l’unité nationale et le principe d’égalité entre hommes et femmes.
Au moins trente pourcent (30%) des Sénateurs élus et des Sénateurs nommés doivent être de sexe féminin.
… (Art. 80)
National level
- English(1) The State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwean society, and in particular—
…
(b) the State must take all measures, including legislative measures, needed to ensure that—
(i) both genders are equally represented in all institutions and agencies of government at every level; and
(ii) women constitute at least half the membership of all Commissions and other elective and appointed governmental bodies established by or under this Constitution or any Act of Parliament;
… (Sec. 17)