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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.
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThere shall be established by Act of Parliament within six months after Parliament first meets after the coming into force of this Constitution, a Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice which shall consist of—
(a) a Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice; and
(b) two Deputy Commissioners for Human Rights and Administrative Justice. (Art. 216)
National Human Rights Bodies
- 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)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English...
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4) the Ombudsman—
…
(b) is not in any case precluded from investigating any matter by reason only that it is open to the complainant to apply to the High Court for redress under section 14 (which relates to redress for contravention of the provisions for the protection of fundamental rights). (Sec. 94)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English(1) The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has the following functions—
(a) to promote awareness of and respect for human rights and freedoms at all levels of society;
(b) to promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights and freedoms;
(c) to monitor, assess and ensure observance of human rights and freedoms;
(d) to receive and consider complaints from the public and to take such action in regard to the complaints as it considers appropriate;
(e) to protect the public against abuse of power and maladministration by State and public institutions and by officers of those institutions;
(f) to investigate the conduct of any authority or person, where it is alleged that any of the human rights and freedoms set out in the Declaration of Rights has been violated by that authority or person;
(g) to secure appropriate redress, including recommending the prosecution of offenders, where human rights or freedoms have been violated;
(h) to direct the Commissioner-General of Police to investigate cases of suspected criminal violations of human rights or freedoms and to report to the Commission on the results of any such investigation;
(i) to recommend to Parliament effective measures to promote human rights and freedoms;
(j) to conduct research into issues relating to human rights and freedoms and social justice; and
(k) to visit and inspect—
(i) prisons, places of detention, refugee camps and related facilities; and
(ii) places where mentally disordered or intellectually handicapped persons are detained;
in order to ascertain the conditions under which persons are kept there, and to make recommendations regarding those conditions to the Minister responsible for administering the law relating to those places.
(2) The Commissioner-General of Police must comply with any directive given to him or her by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission under subsection (1)(h). (Sec. 243)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe Independent National Institution of Human Rights is given the charge of promoting and protecting the human rights. (Art. 146)
- FrenchL'Institution nationale indépendante des droits humains est chargée de la promotion et de la protection des droits humains. (Art. 146)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishCitizen Power is exercised by the Republican Ethics Council, consisting of the People Defender, the General Prosecutor and the General Comptroller of the Republic. … (Art. 273)
- SpanishEl Poder Ciudadano se ejerce por el Consejo Moral Republicano integrado por el Defensor o Defensora del Pueblo, el Fiscal o Fiscala General y el Contralor o Contralora General de la República. … (Art. 273)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishA National Commission of the Rights of Man[,] is instituted.
The National Commission of the Rights of Man (CNDH) is an independent administrative authority. (Art. 171) - Arabicأنشئت لجنة وطنية لحقوق الإنسان.
اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الإنسان (CNDH) هي سلطة إدارية مستقلة. (المادة 171) - FrenchII est institué une Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme.
La Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH) est une autorité administrative indépendante. (Art. 171)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishTo monitor respect for human rights in Afghanistan as well as to foster and protect it, the state shall establish the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan. Every individual shall complain to this Commission about the violation of personal human rights. The Commission shall refer human rights violations of individuals to legal authorities and assist them in defense of their rights. Organization and method of operation of the Commission shall be regulated by law. (Art. 58)
- Dariدولت به منظور نظارت بر رعایت حقوق بشر در افغانستان و بهبود و حمایت از آن، كمیسیون مستقل حقوق بشر افغانستان را تأسیس می نماید. هر شخص می تواند در صورت نقض حقوق بشری خود، به این كمیسیون شكایت نماید.كمیسیون می تواند موارد نقض حقوق بشری افراد را به مراجع قانونی راجع سازد و در دفاع ازحقوق آنها مساعدت نماید. تشكیل و طرز فعالیت این كمیسیون توسط قانون تنظیم میگردد. (مادۀ ۵۸)
- Pashtoدولت په افغانستان كې د بشر د حقوقو د رعايت د څارنې، ښه والي او ملاتړ لپاره، د افغانستان د بشر د حقوقو خپلواك كمېسيون جوړوي. هر څوك كولاى شي د خپلو بشري حقوقو د نقض په صورت كې دې كمېسيون ته شكايت وكړي. كميسيون كولاى شي د افرادو د بشري حقوقو د نقض موارد، مربوطو قانوني څانگو ته راجع كړي او د هغوى له حقوقو څخه په دفاع كې مرسته وكړي. د دې كمېسيون جوړښت او د كار ډول يې د قانون له ليارې تنظيمېږي. (۵۸ ماده)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishA National Commission of the Rights of Man is instituted. (Art. 214)
- FrenchIl est institué une Commission nationale des droits de l’homme. (Art. 214)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe Commission shall perform the following functions –
a. monitor the state of human rights throughout Lesotho;
b. monitor the human rights situation of detainees;
c. investigate violations of human rights and, if necessary, be responsible for instituting proceedings against such violation in the courts of law;
d. sensitise the public on its work, the nature and meaning of human rights;
e. develop and deliver education and training programmes as necessary to the general public;
f. submit opinions, recommendations, propositions and reports to public institutions on human rights issues, using the media and other means;
g. advocate for ratification, and recommend the domestication of international and regional human rights instruments;
h. promote and monitor the harmonisation of national laws and practices with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Lesotho;
i. develop and maintain working relations with organisations and representatives of civil society in Lesotho;
j. work in cooperation with the United Nations, regional mechanisms, national human rights institutions of other countries, in the areas of the promotion and protection of human rights, and
k. undertake any other activities or responsibilities that are consistent with the spirit of the promotion and protection of human rights. (Sec. 133F)