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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.
Composition and Appointment
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court consists of nine (9) members including at least four (4) women, who hold the title of Constitutional Judge.
The duration of the mandate of the Constitutional Judges is of seven (7) years, non-renewable.
The members of the Constitutional Court are designated as follows:
– two (2) Magistrates including one women, elected by their peers;
– two (2) Attorney including one woman, elected by their peers;
– two (2) [members] of a Faculty of Law [enseignants-chercheurs de Droit] including one woman, elected by their peers;
– one (1) member appointed by the President of the Republic;
– one (1) member appointed by the President of the National Assembly;
– one (1) member appointed by the President of the Senate.
... (Art. 99) - FrenchLa Cour Constitutionnelle comprend neuf (09) membres dont au moins quatre (4) femmes, qui portent Ie titre de Juge Constitutionnel.
La durée du mandat des Juges Constitutionnels est de sept (07) ans non renouvelable.
Les membres de la Cour Constitutionnelle sont désignés comme suit:
- deux (2) magistrats dont une femme, élus par leurs pairs;
- deux (2) avocats dont une femme, élus par leurs pairs;
- deux (2) enseignants-chercheurs de Droit dont une femme, élus par leurs pairs;
- un (1) membre nommé par Ie Président de la République;
- un (1) membre nommé par Ie Président de l'Assemblée Nationale;
- un (1) membre nommé par Ie Président du Sénat.
... (Art. 99)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. In addition to the right of appeal accorded by section 47 of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie as of right to the Court of Appeal from decisions of the High Court in the following cases, that is to say:
a. subject to section 69 of this Constitution, final decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution, including any such decision made on a reference to the High Court under section 128;
b. final decisions of the High Court in the determination of any question in respect of which a right of access to the High Court is guaranteed by section 17 of this Constitution and final decisions of the High Court under section 22 of this Constitution.
… (Sec. 129)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen on the occasion of a pending legal proceeding before a jurisdiction, an exception of unconstitutionality is raised, the Constitutional Council may be referred to the matter on remand from the Court of Cassation.
If the provision is declared unconstitutional, the Constitutional Council returns it to the Parliament which decides sovereignly on the case. The new provision is promulgated. (Art. 190ter-8) - FrenchLorsqu'à l'occasion d'une instance en cours devant une juridiction, il est soulevé une exception d'inconstitutionnalité, le Conseil Constitutionnel peut en être saisi sur renvoi de la Cour de Cassation.
Si la disposition est déclarée inconstitutionnelle, le Conseil Constitutionnel la renvoie au Parlement qui statue souverainement sur le cas. La nouvelle disposition est promulguée. (Art. 190ter.8)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court shall exercise control over the constitutionality of normative legal acts in the state by means of constitutional judicial proceedings in order to protect the constitutional order of the Republic of Belarus, human and citizen's rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and its direct action in the territory of the Republic of Belarus.
... (Art. 116) - Belarusian
Канстытуцыйны Суд ажыццяўляе кантроль за канстытуцыйнасцю нарматыўных прававых актаў у дзяржаве праз канстытуцыйнае судаводства з мэтай абароны канстытуцыйнага ладу Рэспублікі Беларусь, гарантаваных Канстытуцыяй правоў і свабод чалавека і грамадзяніна, забеспячэння вяршэнства Канстытуцыі і яе прамога дзеяння на тэрыторыі Рэспублікі Беларусь.
… (Артыкул 116) - Russian
Конституционный Суд осуществляет контроль за конституционностью нормативных правовых актов в государстве посредством конституционного судопроизводства в целях защиты конституционного строя Республики Беларусь, гарантированных Конституцией прав и свобод человека и гражданина, обеспечения верховенства Конституции и ее прямого действия на территории Республики Беларусь.
… (Статья 116)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
The Constitutional Court[,]
- decides obligatorily on:
• the constitutionality of the organic laws before their promulgation;
• the Internal Regulations of the National Assembly, of the High Authority for Broadcasting and of Communication and of the Economic and Social Council prior to their implementation, as well their conformity with the Constitution;
• the constitutionality of the laws and of the regulatory acts supposedly infringing the fundamental rights of the human person and the public freedoms and in general, on the violation of the rights of the human person;
• the conflicts of attributions between the institutions of the State.
• the disputes of the election of the duo President of the Republic and Vice President of the Republic and of the members of the National Assembly;
- sees to the regularity of the election of the duo President of the Republic and Vice President of the Republic; examines the complaints, decides on the irregularities that it has found, by itself, [as] arising and proclaims the results of the ballot; decides on the regularity of the referendum and proclaim the results of it;
- decides, in the case of dispute on the regularity of the legislative elections;
- forms [fait], of right, [its] part of the High Court of Justice with the exception of its President. (Art. 117) - French
La Cour constitutionnelle
- statue obligatoirement sur :
• la constitutionnalité des lois organiques avant leur promulgation ;
• les règlements intérieurs de l’Assemblée nationale, de la Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication et du Conseil économique et social avant leur mise en application, quant à leur conformité à la Constitution ;
• la constitutionnalité des lois et des actes réglementaires censés porter atteinte aux droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine et aux libertés publiques en général, sur la violation des droits de la personne humaines ;
• les conflits d’attributions entre les institutions de l’Etat ;
• le contentieux de l’élection du duo Président de la République et vice-président de la République et des membres de l’Assemblée nationale ;
- veille à la régularité de l’élection du duo Président de la République et vice-président de la république ; examine les réclamations, statue sur les irrégularités qu’elle aurait pu, par ellemême, relever et proclame les résultats du scrutin ; statue sur la régularité du référendum et en proclame les résultats ;
- statue, en cas de contestation, sur la régularité des élections législatives ;
- fait de droit partie de la Haute Cour de justice à l’exception de son président. (Art. 117)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
The laws prior to the Constitution must be modified, if it applies, to render them in conformity with the constitutional rights and freedoms within a time period not exceeding three years counting from the date of promulgation of this Constitutional Law.
In case that the modifications provided for in the preceding paragraph are not adopted [apportées] in the prescribed times, any individual can refer [déférer] these laws to the Constitutional Council for examination of their constitutionality. The provisions declared unconstitutional may not be applied. (Art. 102) - Arabic...
يتوجّب تعديل القوانين السّابقة للدّستور، و عند الاقتضاء- من أجل مطابقتها مع الحقوق و الحريّات الدّستورية في أجل لا يتعدّى ثلاث سنوات(3) اعتبارا من تاريخ صدور هذا القانون الدستوري.
و في حالة عدم إجراء التّعديلات المقرّرة في الفقرة السّابقة في الآجال المحدّدة يجوز لأي شخص أن يطعن في عدم دستورية هذه القوانين أمام المجلس الدستوري. و لا يجوز تطبيق التّرتيبات المحكوم بعدم دستوريتها. (المادّة 102) - French...
Les lois antérieures à la Constitution doivent être modifiées, s’il y a lieu, pour les rendre conformes aux droits et libertés constitutionnels, dans un délai n’excédant pas trois (3) ans pour compter de la date de promulgation de la présente loi constitutionnelle.
Au cas où les modifications prévues à l'alinéa précédent ne sont pas apportées dans les délais prescrits, tout individu pourra déférer ces lois au Conseil constitutionnel pour examen de leur constitutionnalité. Les dispositions déclarées inconstitutionnelles ne peuvent être appliquées. (Art. 102)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishAmong the constitutional and legal functions of the Supreme Court of Justice shall be the following:
1. To guard the integrity of the Constitution. For this purpose, and after hearing the opinion of the Attorney General of the Nation or the Solicitor General of the Administration, the Court in plenary session shall try and rule on cases concerning the unconstitutionality of laws, decrees, decisions, resolutions and other acts that for reasons of substance or form are challenged before it, by any person.
When during the proceedings of a case, the public official entrusted with the administration of Justice considers, or it is observed by one of the parties, that the legal or regulatory provision applicable to the case is unconstitutional, he/she shall submit the question to the cognizance of the Court in plenary session, except when the provision has already been the subject of a decision, and shall order a continuance of the case, until the question of constitutionality is decided.
The parties only shall be able to formulate such observations one time during the process of a case;
… (Art. 206) - SpanishLa Corte Suprema de Justicia tendrá, entre sus atribuciones constitucionales y legales, las siguientes:
1. La guarda de la integridad de la Constitución para lo cual la Corte en pleno conocerá y decidirá, con audiencia del Procurador General de la Nación o del Procurador de la Administración, sobre la inconstitucionalidad de las Leyes, decretos, acuerdos, resoluciones y demás actos que por razones de fondo o de forma impugne ante ella cualquier persona.
Cuando en un proceso el funcionario público encargado de impartir justicia advirtiere o se lo advirtiere alguna de las partes que la disposición legal o reglamentaria aplicable al caso es inconstitucional, someterá la cuestión al conocimiento del pleno de la Corte, salvo que la disposición haya sido objeto de pronunciamiento por parte de ésta, y continuará el curso del negocio hasta colocarlo en estado de decidir.
Las partes sólo podrán formular tales advertencias una sola vez por instancia.
… (Art. 206)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishWhen determining a case, the courts refuse to give effect to a law or other legislation that is in conflict with the Constitution.
The Supreme Court declares invalid any law or other legislation that is in conflict with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. (Sec. 152) - EstonianKohus jätab kohtuasja lahendamisel kohaldamata mis tahes seaduse või muu õigusakti, kui see on vastuolus põhiseadusega.
Riigikohus tunnistab kehtetuks mis tahes seaduse või muu õigusakti, kui see on vastuolus põhiseaduse sätte ja mõttega. (§ 152)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. Everyone shall have the right to request from the Constitutional Court, by a writ of amparo, the protection of his or her constitutionally recognized fundamental rights, liberties and guarantees, under the terms of the law and in accordance with the provisions contemplated in the following subparagraphs:
a) A writ of amparo may only be filed against acts or omissions of public authorities, that are injurious to the fundamental rights, liberties and guarantees, once all other means of ordinary appeal have been exhausted;
b) A writ of amparo may be requested through a simple petition; it would be of an urgent nature, and its procedure must be based on the principle of summary treatment.
... (Art. 20) - Portuguese1. A todos os indivíduos é reconhecido o direito de requerer ao Tribunal Constitucional, através de recurso de amparo, a tutela dos seus direitos, liberdades e garantias fundamentais, constitucionalmente reconhecidos, nos termos da lei e com observância do disposto nas alíneas seguintes:
a) O recurso de amparo só pode ser interposto contra actos ou omissões dos poderes públicos lesivos dos direitos, liberdades e garantias fundamentais, depois de esgotadas todas as vias de recurso ordinário;
b) O recurso de amparo pode ser requerido em simples peti- ção, tem carácter urgente e o seu processamento deve ser baseado no princípio da sumariedade.
... (Art. 20)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court controls the regularity of the presidential and legislative elections. It examines the claims, decides on the disputes of the presidential and of the legislative elections and proclaims the results of the ballots. It decides on the regularity of the referendum and proclaims their results of them. (Art. 127)
- FrenchLa Cour constitutionnelle contrôle la régularité des élections présidentielles et législatives. Elle examine les réclamations, statue sur le contentieux des élections présidentielles et législatives et proclame les résultats des scrutins. Elle statue sur la régularité du référendum et en proclame les résultats. (Art. 127)