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Constitution of the Fifth French Republic 1958, as amended to 2024
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be based only on considerations of the common good. (1789 Declaration, Art. 1)
- French
Les hommes naissent et demeurent libres et égaux en droits. Les distinctions sociales ne peuvent être fondées que sur l'utilité commune. (Déclaration 1789, Art. 1er)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
The Law is the expression of the general will. All citizens have the right to take part, personally or through their representatives, in its making. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes.
… (1789 Declaration, Art. 6) - French
La Loi est l'expression de la volonté générale. Tous les Citoyens ont droit de concourir personnellement, ou par leurs Représentants, à sa formation. Elle doit être la même pour tous, soit qu'elle protège, soit qu'elle punisse.
… (Déclaration 1789, Art. 6)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
In the morrow of the victory achieved by the free peoples over the regimes that had sought to enslave and degrade humanity, the people of France proclaim anew that each human being, without distinction of race, religion or creed, possesses sacred and inalienable rights. They solemnly reaffirm the rights and freedoms of man and the citizen enshrined in the Declaration of Rights of 1789 and the fundamental principles acknowledged in the laws of the Republic. (1946 Preamble, Sec. 1)
- French
Au lendemain de la victoire remportée par les peuples libres sur les régimes qui ont tenté d'asservir et de dégrader la personne humaine, le peuple français proclame à nouveau que tout être humain, sans distinction de race, de religion ni de croyance, possède des droits inaliénables et sacrés. Il réaffirme solennellement les droits et libertés de l'homme et du citoyen consacrés par la Déclaration des droits de 1789 et les principes fondamentaux reconnus par les lois de la République. (Préambule 1946, Sec. 1)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
The law guarantees women equal rights to those of men in all spheres. (1946 Preamble, Sec. 3)
- French
La loi garantit à la femme, dans tous les domaines, des droits égaux à ceux de l'homme. (Préambule 1946, Sec. 3)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
France shall form with its overseas peoples a Union founded upon equal rights and duties, without distinction of race or religion. (1946 Preamble, Sec. 16)
- French
La France forme avec les peuples d'outre-mer une Union fondée sur l'égalité des droits et des devoirs, sans distinction de race ni de religion. (Préambule 1946, Sec. 16)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
France shall be an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of origin, race or religion.
… (1958 Constitution, Art. 1) - French
La France est une République indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale. Elle assure l'égalité devant la loi de tous les citoyens sans distinction d'origine, de race ou de religion.
… (Constitution 1958, Art. 1er)
1
Constitution of France 1958, as amended to 2008 (English). Consolidated version as amended to 2024 not publicly available. The constitutional order of France is made up of different texts. According to the Preamble of the 1958 Constitution: "The French people solemnly proclaim their attachment to the Rights of Man and the principles of national sovereignty as defined by the Declaration of 1789, confirmed and complemented by the Preamble to the Constitution of 1946, and to the rights and duties as defined in the Charter for the Environment of 2004." According to Art. 2 of the 1958 Constitution: "The language of the Republic shall be French. ..."
3
Art. 34 as amended by 2024 Amendment; In-house translation by UN Women, 2024.