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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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Citizenship and Nationality
Zambia
- EnglishA person born outside Zambia is a citizen by descent if, at the date of that person’s birth, at least one parent of that person is or was a citizen by birth or descent. (Art. 36)
Citizenship and Nationality
South Africa
- EnglishNo citizen may be deprived of citizenship. (Sec. 20)
Citizenship and Nationality
Namibia
- English(1) The following persons shall be citizens of Namibia by birth:
(a) those born in Namibia before the date of Independence whose fathers or mothers would have been Namibian citizens at the time of the birth of such persons, if this Constitution had been in force at that time; and
(b) those born in Namibia before the date of Independence, who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (a) hereof, and whose fathers or mothers were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the time of the birth of such persons: provided that their fathers or mothers were not then persons:
(aa) who were enjoying diplomatic immunity in Namibia under any law relating to diplomatic privileges; or
(bb) who were career representatives of another country; or
(cc) who were members of any police, military or security unit seconded for service within Namibia by the Government of another country: provided further that this Sub-Article shall not apply to persons claiming citizenship of Namibia by birth if such persons were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the date of Independence and had been so resident for a continuous period of not less than five (5) years prior to such date, or if the fathers or mothers of such persons claiming citizenship were ordinarily resident in Namibia at the date of the birth of such persons and had been so resident for a continuous period of not less than five (5) years prior to such date;
(c) those born in Namibia after the date of Independence whose fathers or mothers are Namibian citizens at the time of the birth of such persons;
(d) those born in Namibia after the date of Independence who do not qualify for citizenship under Sub-Article (c) hereof, and whose fathers or mothers are ordinarily resident in Namibia at the time of the birth of such persons: provided that their fathers or mothers are not then persons:
(aa) enjoying diplomatic immunity in Namibia under any law relating to diplomatic privileges; or
(bb) who are career representatives of another country; or
(cc) who are members of any police, military or security unit seconded for service within Namibia by the Government of another country; or
(dd) who are illegal immigrants:
provided further that Sub-Articles (aa), (bb), (cc) and (dd) hereof will not apply to children who would otherwise be stateless.
(2) The following persons shall be citizens of Namibia by descent:
(a) those who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (1) hereof and whose fathers or mothers at the time of the birth of such persons are citizens of Namibia or whose fathers or mothers would have qualified for Namibian citizenship by birth under Sub-Article (1) hereof, if this Constitution had been in force at that time; and
(b) who comply with such requirements as to registration of citizenship as may be required by Act of Parliament: provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation which requires the birth of such persons born after the date of Independence to be registered within a specific time either in Namibia or at an embassy, consulate or office of a trade representative of the Government of Namibia.
(3) The following persons shall be citizens of Namibia by marriage:
(a) those who are not Namibian citizens under Sub-Article (1) or (2) hereof and who:
(aa) in good faith marry a Namibian citizen or, prior to the coming into force of this Constitution, in good faith married a person who would have qualified for Namibian citizenship if this Constitution had been in force; and
(bb) subsequent to such marriage have ordinarily resided in Namibia as the spouse of such person for a period of not less than ten (10) years; and
(cc) apply to become citizens of Namibia;
(b) for the purposes of this Sub-Article (and without derogating from any effect that it may have for any other purposes) a marriage by customary law shall be deemed to be a marriage: provided that nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation which defines the requirements which need to be satisfied for a marriage by customary law to be recognised as such for the purposes of this Sub-Article.
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(5) Citizenship by naturalisation may be applied for by persons who are not Namibian citizens
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(7) Namibian citizenship shall be lost by persons who renounce their Namibian citizenship by voluntarily signing a formal declaration to that effect.
(8) Nothing in this Constitution shall preclude Parliament from enacting legislation providing for the loss of Namibian citizenship by persons who, after the date of Independence:
(a) have acquired the citizenship of any other country by any voluntary act; or
(b) have served or volunteered to serve in the armed or security forces of any other country without the written permission of the Namibian Government; or
(c) have taken up permanent residence in any other country and have absented themselves thereafter from Namibia for a period in excess of two (2) years without the written permission of the Namibian Government:
provided that no person who is a citizen of Namibia by birth or descent may be deprived of Namibian citizenship by such legislation.
(9) Parliament shall be entitled to make further laws not inconsistent with this Constitution regulating the acquisition or loss of Namibian citizenship. (Art. 4)
Citizenship and Nationality
Seychelles
- EnglishA person who, immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution, was a citizen of Seychelles by birth, descent, naturalization or registration shall, on and after that date, continue by virtue of this article to be a citizen of Seychelles by birth, descent, naturalization or registration, as the case may be. (Art. 7)
Citizenship and Nationality
Kenya
- EnglishA citizen by birth does not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country. (Art. 16)
- SwahiliRaia kwa kuzaliwa haupotezi uraia kwa kupata uraia wa nchi nyingine. (Kifungu cha 16)
Citizenship and Nationality
Lesotho
- English1. Parliament may make provision for the acquisition of citizenship of Lesotho by persons who are not eligible or who are no longer eligible to become citizens of Lesotho under the provisions of this Chapter.
2. Parliament may make provision for depriving of his citizenship of Lesotho any person other than a person who became or becomes—
a. a citizen of Lesotho by virtue of having been born in Lesotho; or
b. a citizen of Lesotho by descent,
unless he would thereby become stateless.
3. Parliament may make provision for the renunciation by any person of his citizenship of Lesotho. (Sec. 42)
Citizenship and Nationality
Mauritius
- EnglishAny person who, after 11 March 1968, marries another person who is or becomes a citizen of Mauritius shall be entitled, up on making application in such manner as may be prescribed and, if he is a British protected person or an alien, upon taking the oath of allegiance, to be registered as a citizen of Mauritius:
Provided that the right to be registered as a citizen of Mauritius under this section shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy. (Sec. 24)
Citizenship and Nationality
Sudan
- English(1) Citizenship is the basis of equal rights and obligations for all Sudanese.
(2) Anyone born to a Sudanese mother or father has an inalienable right to possess Sudanese nationality and citizenship.
(3) The law shall organize citizenship and naturalization, and no one who has acquired citizenship by naturalization shall be deprived of nationality except by law.
(4) Any Sudanese person may acquire the nationality of another country, as regulated by law. (Art. 44) - Arabic1. تكون المواطنه اساس الحقوق المتساوية والواجبات لكل السودانيين
2. لكل مولود من أم او أب سوداني حق لا ينتقص في التمتع بالجنسية ةالمواطنة السودانيه
3. ينظم القانون المواطنة والتجنس، ولا يجوز نزع الجنسية عمن إكتسبها بالتجنس إلا بقانون
4. يجوز لأي سوداني أن يكتسب جنسية بلد أخر حسبما ينظمه القانون .... (الماده 45)
Citizenship and Nationality
Zimbabwe
- EnglishSubject to section 36(2), persons born outside Zimbabwe are Zimbabwean citizens by descent if, when they were born—
(a) either of their parents or any of their grandparents was a Zimbabwean citizen by birth or descent; or
(b) either of their parents was a Zimbabwean citizen by registration;
and the birth is registered in Zimbabwe in accordance with the law relating to the registration of births. (Sec. 37)
Citizenship and Nationality
Comoros
- EnglishAll those considered as such by the law or by virtue of an international convention are Comorian citizens.
Outside of the cases where the law provides otherwise, no Comorian of birth may be deprived of their nationality. (Art. 5) - Arabicالمواطنون القمريون هم جميع الذين يعتبرهم القانون كذلك أو بموجب اتفاقية دولية.
خارج الحالات التي ينص فيها القانون على خلاف ذلك، لا يجوز حرمان أي قمري من جنسيته. (المادة 5) - FrenchSont citoyens comoriens tous ceux qui sont considérés comme tels par la loi ou en vertu d'une convention internationale.
Hors des cas où la loi en dispose autrement, aucun Comorien de naissance ne peut être privé de sa nationalité. (Art. 5)