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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.
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (7) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
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(3) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons, attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex 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 accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
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(e) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section 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 in a democratic society.
... (Sec. 15)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- 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)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
3. The historical legacy of inequality and discrimination suffered by women in Ethiopia taken into account, women, in order to remedy this legacy, are entitled to affirmative measures. The purpose of such measures shall be to provide special attention to women so as to enable them to compete and participate on the basis of equality with men in political, social and economic life as well as in public and private institutions.
… (Art. 35) - Amharic…
3. ሴቶች በበታችነትና በልዩነት በመታየታቸው የደረሰባቸውን የታሪክ ቅርስ ከግምት ውስጥ በማስገባት ይህ ቅርስ እንዲታረምላቸው በተጨማሪ የድጋፍ እርምጃዎች ተጠቃሚ የመሆን መብት አላቸው፡፡ በዚህ በኩል የሚወሰዱት እርምጃዎች ዓላማ በፖለቲካዊ፣ በማኅበራዊና በኢኮኖሚያዊ መስኮች እንዲሁም በመንግሥት እና በግል ተቋሞች ውስጥ ሴቶች ከወንዶች ጋር በእኩልነት ተወዳዳሪና ተሳታፊ እንዲሆኑ ለማድረግ እንዲቻል ልዩ ትኩረት ለመስጠት ነው፡፡
… (አንቀጽ 35)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law.
2. Without prejudice to clause (l) of this article, a person shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.
3. For the purposes of this article, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.
4. Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are necessary for-
a. implementing policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic, educational or other imbalance in society;
b. making such provision as is required or authorised to be made under this Constitution; or
… (Art. 21)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- 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)
- English1. The National Government shall establish independent institutions and commissions as provided for by this Constitution. Such institutions and commissions shall perform their functions and duties impartially and without interference from any person or authority.
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3. The National Government shall ensure that at least twenty-five percent of the membership of each of these institutions and commissions shall be women. (Art. 142)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe following shall be the fundamental tasks of the State:
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e) To promote the well-being and quality of life of the Cabo Verdean people, especially the neediest, and to remove, in a progressive fashion, economic, social, cultural and political obstacles that hinder true equality of opportunity among citizens, especially factors of discrimination against women in the family and in the society;
… (Art. 7) - PortugueseSão tarefas fundamentais do Estado:
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e) Promover o bem estar e a qualidade de vida do povo cabo-verdiano, designadamente dos mais carenciados, e remover progressivamente os obstáculos de natureza económica, social, cultural e política que impedem a real igualdade de oportunidades entre os cidadãos, especialmente os factores de discriminação da mulher na família e na sociedade;
… (Art. 7)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
…
The law favors the equal access and the participation of women and men in public employment and to the functions in the domain of the political, economical and social life. (Art. 6) - French
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La loi favorise l’égal accès et la participation des femmes et des hommes aux emplois publics et aux fonctions dans le domaine de la vie politique, économique et sociale. (Art. 6)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English… The state seeks to guarantee women’s representation in elected bodies. (Art. 34)
- Arabic... تعمل الدّولة على ضمان تمثيليّة المرأة في المجالس المنتخبة. (الفصل 34)
- French… L’État veille à garantir la représentativité de la femme dans les assemblées élues. (Art. 34)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English...
(2) No law enacted by any authority in the United Republic shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
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(4) No person shall be discriminated against by any person or any authority acting under any law or in the discharge of the functions or business of any state office.
(5) For the purposes of this Article the expression “discriminate” means to satisfy the needs, rights or other requirements of different persons on the basis of their nationality, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, sex or station in life such that certain categories of people are regarded as weak or inferior and are subjected to restrictions or conditions whereas persons of other categories are treated differently or are accorded opportunities or advantage outside the specified conditions or the prescribed necessary qualifications except that the word “discrimination” shall not be construed in a manner that will prohibit the Government from taking purposeful steps aimed at rectifying disabilities in the society.
… (Art. 13)