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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 13181 RESULTS
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
New Zealand
- English(1) Anything done or omitted which would otherwise constitute a breach of any of the provisions of this Part3 shall not constitute such a breach if—
(a) it is done or omitted in good faith for the purpose of assisting or advancing persons or groups of persons, being in each case persons against whom discrimination is unlawful by virtue of this Part; and
(b) those persons or groups need or may reasonably be supposed to need assistance or advancement in order to achieve an equal place with other members of the community.
(2) Nothing in this Part—
(a) limits the power of the Crown to establish or arrange work or training schemes or employment assistance measures, eligibility for which may, in whole or in part, be determined by a person's age, employment status, or family status; or
(b) makes it unlawful for any person to recruit or refer any other person who is of a particular age or of a particular employment status or of a particular family status for any work or training scheme or employment assistance measure that is established or arranged by the Crown, the eligibility for which may, in whole or in part, be determined by a person's age, employment status, or family status. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 73)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Zimbabwe
- English(1) The State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwean society, and in particular—
(a) the State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men;
(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;
(c) the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must take practical measures to ensure that women have access to resources, including land, on the basis of equality with men.
(2) The State must take positive measures to rectify gender discrimination and imbalances resulting from past practices and policies. (Sec. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Lesotho
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
...
3. In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status 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) shall not apply to any law to the extent that that law makes provision—
…
e. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be made subject 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.
Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the making of laws in pursuance of the principle of State Policy of promoting a society based on equality and justice for all the citizens of Lesotho and thereby removing any discriminatory law.
... (Sec. 18)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Gambia
- English…
(4) In the composition of the Government, women shall be fairly represented.
… (Sec. 214)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Ecuador
- EnglishThe requirements and procedures for designating public servants of the judiciary must involve a competitive merit-based examination, subject to challenge and social monitoring; parity between men and women shall be fostered.
… (Art. 176) - SpanishLos requisitos y procedimientos para designar servidoras y servidores judiciales deberán contemplar un concurso de oposición y méritos, impugnación y control social; se propenderá a la paridad entre mujeres y hombres.
… (Art. 176)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Zambia
- English1. Where a person is empowered to make a nomination or an appointment to a public office, that person shall ensure—
…
b. that fifty percent of each gender is nominated or appointed from the total available positions, unless it is not practicable to do so; ... (Art. 259)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Morocco
- EnglishAn organic law establishes notably:
• the conditions of democratic management of their affairs by the regions and the other territorial collectivities, the number of members of their councils, the rules relative to the eligibility, to the incompatibilities and to the case of the interdiction of accumulation of mandates, as well as the electoral regime and the provisions designed [visant] to assure the better participation of women within these councils;
… (Art. 146) - Arabicتحدد بقانون تنظيمي بصفة خاصة:
• شروط تدبير الجهات والجماعات الترابية الأخرى لشؤونها بكيفية ديمقراطية، وعدد أعضاء مجالسها، والقواعد المتعلقة بأهلية الترشيح، وحالات التنافي، وحالات منع الجمع بين الانتدابات، وكذا النظام الانتخابي، وأحكام تحسين تمثيلية النساء داخل المجالس المذكورة،
... (الفصل 146)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Serbia
- English
…
In the National Assembly, equality and representation of different genders and members of national minorities shall be provided, in accordance with Law. (Art. 100) - Serbian Cyrillic
…
У Народној скупштини обезбеђују се равноправност и заступљеност полова и представника националних мањина, у складу са законом. (Члан 100)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Angola
- EnglishThe fundamental tasks of the Angolan state shall be:
…
k) To promote equality between men and women;
… (Art. 21) - PortugueseConstituem tarefas fundamentais do Estado angolano:
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k) Promover a igualdade entre o homem e a mulher;
… (Art. 21)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Dominican Republic
- EnglishAll people are born free and equal before the law, receive the same protection and treatment from institutions, authorities, and other people and enjoy the same rights liberties and opportunities, without any discrimination for reasons of gender, color, age, disability, nationality, family ties, language, religions, political or philosophical opinion, social or personal condition. Consequently:
…
3. The State should promote judicial and administrative conditions so that equality may be real and effective and shall adopt methods to prevent and combat discrimination, marginalization, vulnerability and exclusion;
4. Women and men are equal before the law. Any act that has the objective or result of diminishing or annulling the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of fundamental rights of woman and men in conditions of equality is prohibited.
5. The State should promote and guarantee the equal participation of women and men in candidate lists to the offices of popular election for the instances of guidance and decision in the public sphere, in the administration of justice, and in the State-controlled bodies. (Art. 39) - SpanishTodas las personas nacen libres e iguales ante la ley, reciben la misma protección y trato de las instituciones, autoridades y demás personas y gozan de los mismos derechos, libertades y oportunidades, sin ninguna discriminación por razones de género, color, edad, discapacidad, nacionalidad, vínculos familiares, lengua, religión, opinión política o filosófica, condición social o personal. En consecuencia:
…
3) El Estado debe promover las condiciones jurídicas y administrativas para que la igualdad sea real y efectiva y adoptará medidas para prevenir y combatir la discriminación, la marginalidad, la vulnerabilidad y la exclusión;
4) La mujer y el hombre son iguales ante la ley. Se prohíbe cualquier acto que tenga como objetivo o resultado menoscabar o anular el reconocimiento, goce o ejercicio en condiciones de igualdad de los derechos fundamentales de mujeres y hombres. Se promoverán las medidas necesarias para garantizar la erradicación de las desigualdades y la discriminación de género;
5) El Estado debe promover y garantizar la participación equilibrada de mujeres y hombres en las candidaturas a los cargos de elección popular para las instancias de dirección y decisión en el ámbito público, en la administración de justicia y en los organismos de control del Estado. (Art. 39)