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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.
ABOUT 203 RESULTS
National Human Rights Bodies
New Zealand
- English(1) The primary functions of the Commission are—
(a) to advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in New Zealand society; and
(b) to encourage the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in New Zealand society; and
(c) to promote racial equality and cultural diversity; and
(d) to promote equal employment opportunities (including pay equity); and
(e) to promote and protect the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities.
(2) The Commission has, in order to carry out its primary functions under subsection (1), the following functions:
(a) to be an advocate for human rights and to promote and protect, by education and publicity, respect for, and observance of, human rights:
(b) to encourage and co-ordinate programmes and activities in the field of human rights:
(c) to make public statements in relation to any matter that may affect or infringe human rights (whether or not those human rights are affirmed in New Zealand domestic human rights law or international human rights law), including statements commenting on the position of the Government in relation to that matter:
(ca) to make public statements promoting an understanding of, and compliance with, this Act or the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (for example, statements promoting understanding of measures to ensure equality, of indirect discrimination, or of institutions and procedures under this Act for dealing with complaints of unlawful discrimination):
(d) to promote by research, education, and discussion a better understanding of the human rights dimensions of the Treaty of Waitangi and their relationship with domestic and international human rights law:
(e) to prepare and publish, as the Commission considers appropriate, guidelines and voluntary codes of practice for the avoidance of acts or practices that may be inconsistent with, or contrary to, this Act:
(f) to receive and invite representations from members of the public on any matter affecting human rights:
(g) to consult and co-operate with other persons and bodies concerned with the protection of human rights:
(h) to inquire generally into any matter, including any enactment or law, or any practice, or any procedure, whether governmental or non-governmental, if it appears to the Commission that the matter involves, or may involve, the infringement of human rights:
(i) to appear in or bring proceedings, in accordance with section 6 or section 92B or section 92E or section 92H or section 97:
(j) to apply to a court or tribunal, under rules of court or regulations specifying the tribunal’s procedure, to be appointed as intervener or as counsel assisting the court or tribunal, or to take part in proceedings before the court or tribunal in another way permitted by those rules or regulations, if, in the Commission’s opinion, taking part in the proceedings in that way will facilitate the performance of its functions stated in paragraph (a):
(k) to report to the Prime Minister on—
(i) any matter affecting human rights, including the desirability of legislative, administrative, or other action to give better protection to human rights and to ensure better compliance with standards laid down in international instruments on human rights:
(ii) the desirability of New Zealand becoming bound by any international instrument on human rights:
(iii) [Repealed]
(ka) to report to either or both of the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible on any existing or proposed legislation (including subordinate legislation), administrative provision, or policy of the Government that the Commission considers may affect human rights:
(kb) to promote the development of new international instruments on human rights:
(kc) to promote and monitor compliance by New Zealand with, and the reporting by New Zealand on, the implementation of international instruments on human rights ratified by New Zealand:
(l) to make public statements in relation to any group of persons in, or who may be coming to, New Zealand who are or may be subject to hostility, or who have been or may be brought into contempt, on the basis that that group consists of persons against whom discrimination is unlawful under this Act:
(m) to develop a national plan of action, in consultation with interested parties, for the promotion and protection of human rights in New Zealand:
(n) to exercise the following functions in relation to equal employment opportunities:
(i) to evaluate, through the use of benchmarks developed by the Commission, the roles that legislation, guidelines, and voluntary codes of practice play in facilitating and promoting best practice in equal employment opportunities:
(ii) to lead the development of guidelines and voluntary codes of practice to facilitate and promote best practice in equal employment opportunities (including codes that identify related rights and obligations in legislation) in accordance with paragraph (e):
(iii) to monitor and analyse progress in improving equal employment opportunities in New Zealand and to report to the Minister on the results of that monitoring and analysis:
(iv) to liaise with, and complement the work of, any trust or body that has as one of its purposes the promotion of equal employment opportunities:
(o) to exercise or perform any other functions, powers, and duties conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.
(3) The Commission may, in the public interest or in the interests of a person, department, or organisation, publish reports relating generally to the exercise of its functions under this Act or to a particular inquiry by it under this Act, whether or not the matters to be dealt with in a report of that kind have been the subject of a report to the Minister or the Prime Minister. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 5)15
National Human Rights Bodies
Armenia
- English1. The following may apply to the Constitutional Court:
…
10. The Human Rights Defender – concerning the conformity of the normative legal acts listed in Point 1 of Article 168 of the Constitution with the provisions of Chapter 23 of the Constitution;
… (Art. 169) - Armenian1. Սահմանադրական դատարան կարող են դիմել
…
10) Մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանը՝ Սահմանադրության 168-րդ հոդվածի 1-ին կետում թվարկված նորմատիվ իրավական ակտերի՝ Սահմանադրության 2-րդ գլխի դրույթներին համապատասխանության հարցերով.
… (Հոդված 169)
National Human Rights Bodies
Angola
- English1. The Ombudsman shall be an independent public body whose purpose shall be to defend the rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens ensuring, by informal means, the justice and legality of the public administration.
2. The Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman shall be elected by the National Assembly on the decision of two thirds of Members in full exercise of their office.
…
4. Citizens and corporate bodies may present the Ombudsman with complaints concerning acts or omissions by public authorities which they shall consider, with no powers of decision, submitting the necessary recommendations for the prevention and remedying of injustices to the appropriate bodies.
5. The activity of the Ombudsman shall be independent of the means for ruling on appeals or disputes provided for in the Constitution and the law.
6. It shall be the duty of public administration bodies and agents, citizens and other public collective bodies to cooperate with the work of the Ombudsman.
… (Art. 192) - Portuguese1. O Provedor de Justiça é uma entidade pública independente que tem por objecto a defesa dos direitos, liberdades e garantias dos cidadãos, assegurando, através de meios informais, a justiça e a legalidade da actividade da Administração Pública.
2. O Provedor de Justiça e o Provedor de Justiça-Adjunto são eleitos pela Assembleia Nacional, por deliberação de maioria absoluta dos Deputados em efectividade de funções.
...
4. Os cidadãos e as pessoas colectivas podem apresentar à Provedoria de Justiça queixas por acções ou omissões dos poderes públicos, que as aprecia sem poder decisório, dirigindo aos órgãos competentes as recomendações necessárias para prevenir e reparar as injustiças.
5. A actividade do Provedor de Justiça é independente dos meios graciosos e contenciosos previstos na Constituição e na lei.
6. Os órgãos e agentes da administração pública, os cidadãos e demais pessoas colectivas públicas têm o dever de cooperar com o Provedor de Justiça na prossecução dos seus fins.
... (Art. 192)
National Human Rights Bodies
Equatorial Guinea
- EnglishThe Defender of the People will be elected by the Chamber of the Deputies and the Senate, [and] confirmed [ratificado] by the President of the Republic, for a period of five years. (Art. 123)
- SpanishEl Defensor del Pueblo será elegido por la Cámara de los Diputados y el Senado, ratificado por el Presidente de la República, para un periodo de cinco años. (Art. 123)
- FrenchLe Défenseur du peuple est élu par la Chambre des députés et le Sénat pour une période de cinq ans. Sa désignation doit être ratifiée par le Président de la République. (Art. 123)
National Human Rights Bodies
Lesotho
- EnglishThere is established a Human Rights Commission (in this Chapter6 referred to as “the Commission”) which shall be independent and free from interference and subject only to this Constitution and any other law. (Sec. 133A)
National Human Rights Bodies
Namibia
- English(1) There shall be an Ombudsman, who shall have the powers and functions set out in this Constitution.
(2) The Ombudsman shall be independent and subject only to this Constitution and the law.
(3) No member of the Cabinet or the Legislature or any other person shall interfere with the Ombudsman in the exercise of his or her functions and all organs of the State shall accord such assistance as may be needed for the protection of the independence, dignity and effectiveness of the Ombudsman.
... (Art. 89)
National Human Rights Bodies
South Sudan
- English1. There shall be established an independent commission to be known as the Human Rights Commission.
…
4. The Commission shall have power to issue summons or other orders requiring representatives of relevant institutions and other bodies at all levels of government or persons or organizations to appear before it or produce any document or record relevant to any investigation by the Commission.
5. The Commission may request a government representative or any person or organization to take part in its deliberations if and when necessary. (Art. 145)
National Human Rights Bodies
Maldives
- English(a) The Human Rights Commission’s responsibilities and powers shall include the following:
1. to promote respect for human rights;
2. to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights;
3. to monitor and assess the observance of human rights.
(b)The Human Rights Commission shall have the following functions and powers, as regulated by law:
1. to investigate and to report on the observance of human rights;
2. to take steps to secure appropriate redress where human rights have been violated;
3. to carry out research, and to educate the public;
4. to exercise such additional powers and functions prescribed by law. (Art. 192) - Dhivehi(ހ) ހިއުމަން ރައިޓްސް ކޮމިޝަނުގެ މަސްއޫލިއްޔަތުތަކާއި ބާރުތަކުގެ ތެރޭގައި އަންނަނިވި ކަންކަން ހިމެނެއެވެ.
1. އިންސާނީ ޙައްޤުތަކަށް މީހުންގެ ހިތްތަކުގައި އިޙްތިރާމް އަށަގެންނެވުމަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރުން.
2. އިންސާނީ ޙައްޤުތައް ރައްކާރެއިކުރުމާއި، ކުރިއެރުވުމަށާއި، އެ ޙާއްޤުތައް ހޯދައިދިނުމަށް މަސައްކަތްކުރުން.
3. އިންސާނީ ޙައްޤުތަކަށް ޙުރުމަތްތެރިކޮށް ހިތާމިންވަރު ބަލައި ވަޒަންކުރުން.
(ށ) ހިއުމަން ރައިޓްސް ކޮމިޝަނުގެ މަސްއޫލިއްޔަތުތައް އަދާކުރުމަށްޓަކައި، ޤާނޫނެއް ކަނޑައަޅާ ބާރުތަކެއް އެ ކޮމިޝަނަށް ލިބިގެންވެއެވެ. އޭގެ ތެރޭގައި އަންނަނިވި ކަންތައްތައް ހިމެނެއެވެ.
1. އިންސާނީ ޙައްޤުތަކަށް ޙުރުމަތްރެއިކޮށް ހިތާމިންވަރު ތަޙުޤީޤުކޮށް އަންގާންޖެހޭ ފަރާތްތަކށް އެންގުން.
2. އިންސާނީ ޙައްގެއް ނިގުޅައިގެންފިނަމަ، ޤާނޫނުގައިވާ ގޮތުގެމަތީން އަޅަންޖެހޭ ފިޔަވަޅުތައް އެޅުން.
3.އިންސާނީ ޙައްޤުތަކާ ގުޅޭ އެކިއެކި ދިރާސާތައްކުރުމާއި އެޙައްގުތަކާ ބެހޭ ގޮތުން ޢާންމު ހޭލުންތެރިކަން އިތުރު ކުރުވުން.
4. ހިއުމަން ރައިޓްސް ކޮމިޝަނަށް ޤާނޫނުން ލިބިދޭ އިތުރު ބާރުތަކާއި ހަވާލުކުރެވޭ އިތުރު މަސްއޫލިއްޔަތުތައް. (ޤާނޫނުއަސާސީގެ 192 ވަނަ މާއްދާ)
National Human Rights Bodies
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- EnglishI. The Public Defender (Defensor del Pueblo) shall oversee the enforcement, promotion, dissemination of and compliance with human rights, both individual and collective, that are established in the Constitution, laws and international instruments. The function of the Public Defender shall extend to the administrative activity of the entire public sector and the activity of private institutions that provide public services.
II. The Public Defender shall also promote the defense of the rights of the nations and rural native indigenous peoples, of urban and intercultural communities, and of Bolivians who are abroad.
III. The Public Defender is an institution with operational, financial and administrative autonomy, in accordance with the law. Its functions shall be governed by the principles of free services, accessibility, swiftness and solidarity. In the exercise of its functions it does not receive instructions from the organs of the State. (Art. 218) - SpanishI. La Defensoría del Pueblo velará por la vigencia, promoción, difusión y cumplimiento de los derechos humanos, individuales y colectivos, que se establecen en la Constitución, las leyes y los instrumentos internacionales. La función de la Defensoría alcanzará a la actividad administrativa de todo el sector público y a la actividad de las instituciones privadas que presten servicios públicos.
II. Corresponderá asimismo a la Defensoría del Pueblo la promoción de la defensa de los derechos de las naciones y pueblos indígena originario campesinos, de las comunidades urbanas e interculturales, y de las bolivianas y los bolivianos en el exterior.
III. La Defensoría del Pueblo es una institución con autonomía funcional, financiera y administrativa, en el marco de la ley. Sus funciones se regirán bajo los principios de gratuidad, accesibilidad, celeridad y solidaridad. En el ejercicio de sus funciones no recibe instrucciones de los órganos del Estado. (Art. 218)
National Human Rights Bodies
Albania
- English
1. The People's Advocate is elected by three-fifths of all members of the Assembly for a five-year period, with the right for re-election.
… (Art. 61) - Albanian
1. Avokati i Popullit zgjidhet nga tri të pestat e të gjithë anëtarëve të Kuvendit për një periudhë prej 5 vjetësh, me të drejtë rizgjedhjeje.
… (Neni 61)