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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.
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) All nationals are equal before the law. Privileges based upon birth, sex, estate, class or religion are excluded. No one shall be discriminated against because of his disability. …
(2) The Federation, provinces and municipalities subscribe to the de-facto equality of men and women. Measures to promote factual equality of women and men, in particular by eliminating actually existing inequalities, are admissible.
(3) Official designations can be applied in such a way as to indicate the sex of the officer holder. The same holds good for titles, academic degrees and descriptions of occupations.
… (Art. 7) - German
(1) Alle Staatsbürger sind vor dem Gesetz gleich. Vorrechte der Geburt, des Geschlechtes, des Standes, der Klasse und des Bekenntnisses sind ausgeschlossen. Niemand darf wegen seiner Behinderung benachteiligt werden. …
(2) Bund, Länder und Gemeinden bekennen sich zur tatsächlichen Gleichstellung von Mann und Frau. Maßnahmen zur Förderung der faktischen Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern insbesondere durch Beseitigung tatsächlich bestehender Ungleichheiten sind zulässig.
(3) Amtsbezeichnungen können in der Form verwendet werden, die das Geschlecht des Amtsinhabers oder der Amtsinhaberin zum Ausdruck bringt. Gleiches gilt für Titel, akademische Grade und Berufsbezeichnungen.
… (Art. 7)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English1. Women have the right to full and equal protection by the law, and have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender or marital status which includes the right—
a. to be accorded the same rights as men in civil law, including equal capacity—
i. to enter into contracts;
ii. to acquire and maintain rights in property, independently or in association with others, regardless of their marital status;
iii. to acquire and retain custody, guardianship and care of children and to have an equal right in the making of decisions that affect their upbringing; and
iv. to acquire and retain citizenship and nationality.
b. on the dissolution of marriage, howsoever entered into—
i. to a fair disposition of property that is held jointly with a husband; and
ii. to fair maintenance, taking into consideration all the circumstances and, in particular, the means of the former husband and the needs of any children.
2. Any law that discriminates against women on the basis of gender or marital status shall be invalid and legislation shall be passed to eliminate customs and practices that discriminate against women, particularly practices such as—
a. sexual abuse, harassment and violence;
b. discrimination in work, business and public affairs; and
c. deprivation of property, including property obtained by inheritance. (Sec. 24)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- 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.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsections (6), (7) and (8) of this section, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(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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(c) with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
(d) for the application in the case of members of a particular race, community or tribe of customary law with respect to any matter whether to the exclusion of any law in respect to that matter which is applicable in the case of other persons or not; or
(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.
(5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent that it makes reasonable provision with respect to qualifications for service as a public officer or as a member of a disciplined force or for the service of a local government authority or a body corporate established directly by any law.
(6) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorized to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (4) or (5) of this section.
(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of this Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorized by section 9(2), 11(5), 12(2) 13(2), or 14(3), as the case may be.
(8) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section shall affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law.
(9) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with the provisions of this section-
(a) if that law was in force immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution and has continued in force at all times since the coming into operation of this Constitution; or
(b) to the extent that the law repeals and re-enacts any provision which has been contained in any written law at all times since immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution. (Sec. 15)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishIn Guatemala[,] all [of the] human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights. The man and the woman, whatever their civil status may be, have equal opportunities and responsibilities. … (Art. 4)
- SpanishEn Guatemala todos los seres humanos son libres e iguales en dignidad y derechos. El hombre y la mujer, cualquiera que sea su estado civil, tienen iguales oportunidades y responsabilidades. … (Art. 4)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) All parties to a proceeding have equal rights before the court.
… (1993 Constitution, Art. 96) - Czech(1) Všichni účastníci řízení mají před soudem rovná práva.
… (Ústava 1993, Čl. 96)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWhereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is indispensable for freedom, justice and peace;
Whereas the said rights include the right of the individual to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, sex, religion, creed or social or economic status;
…
Whereas we the people of Namibia -
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committed to these principles, have resolved to constitute the Republic of Namibia as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State securing to all our citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity,
… (Preamble)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English…
(2) The Republic of Cameroon shall be a decentralized unitary State.
It shall be one and indivisible, secular, democratic and dedicated to social service.
It shall recognize and protect traditional values that conform to democratic principles, human rights and the law.
It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law.
… (Art. 1) - French...
(2) La République du Cameroun est un Etat unitaire décentralisé.
Elle est une et indivisible, laïque, démocratique et sociale.
Elle reconnaît et protège les valeurs traditionnelles conformes aux principes démocratiques, aux droits de lʼhomme et à la loi.
Elle assure lʼégalité de tous les citoyens devant la loi.
... (Art. 1)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
All persons are equal before the law and have right to equal protection. There will be no discrimination for reasons of birth, nationality, political belief, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, origin, economic position or social condition.
... (Art. 27) - Spanish
Todas las personas son iguales ante la ley y tienen derecho a igual protección. No habrá discriminación por motivos de nacimiento, nacionalidad, credo político, raza, sexo, idioma, religión, opinión, origen, posición económica o condición social.
... (Art. 27)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English…
2. Adoption of positive measures for promoting equality between men and women does not constitute discrimination on grounds of sex. The State shall take measures for the elimination of inequalities actually existing, in particular to the detriment of women.
… (Art. 116) - Greek…
2. Δεν αποτελεί διάκριση λόγω φύλου η λήψη θετικών μέτρων για την προώθηση της ισότητας μεταξύ ανδρών και γυναικών. Το Κράτος μεριμνά για την άρση των ανισοτήτων που υφίστανται στην πράξη, ιδίως σε βάρος των γυναικών.
… ('Αρθρο 116)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
…
(2) Propagation of ethnic, regional, racial discrimination or any other form of division is punished by law. (Art. 37) - Kinyarwanda
…
(2) Kwamamaza ivangura rishingiye ku isanomuzi, ku karere, ku bwoko cyangwa ku macakubiri ayo ari yo yose bihanwa n’amategeko. (Ingingo ya 37) - French
…
(2) Toute propagande à caractère ethnique, régionaliste, raciste ou basée sur toute autre forme de division est punie par la loi. (Art. 37)