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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.
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) At a time of national disaster or during a state of national defence or public emergency threatening the life of the nation or the constitutional order, the President may by Proclamation in the Gazette declare that a state of emergency exists in Namibia or any part thereof.
…
(5) (a) During a state of emergency in terms of this Article or when a state of national defence prevails, the President shall have the power by Proclamation to make such regulations as in his or her opinion are necessary for the protection of national security, public safety and the maintenance of law and order.
(b) The powers of the President to make such regulations shall include the power to suspend the operation of any rule of the common law or statute or any fundamental right or freedom protected by this Constitution, for such period and subject to such conditions as are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation which has given rise to the emergency: provided that nothing in this Sub-Article shall enable the President to act contrary to the provisions of Article 24 hereof.
… (Art. 26)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), (5), and (7), no law shall make provision which 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, tribe, sex, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed 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 so far as that law makes provision—
…
f. for authorising the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency;
… (Sec. 27)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) Apart from the provisions of Article 30(2), any law enacted by Parliament shall not be void for the reason only that it enables measures to be taken during a state of emergency or in normal times in relation to persons who are believed to engage in activities which endanger or prejudice the security of the nation, which measures derogate from the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 of this Constitution.
(2) It is hereby prohibited to take any of the measures referred to in subarticle (1) of this Article in pursuance of any law during a state of emergency or in normal times in relation to any person, save only to the extent that they are necessary and justifiable for dealing with the situation that exists during the state of emergency, or in normal times dealing with the situation created by the conduct of the person concerned.
(3) It is hereby declared that the provisions of this Article shall not authorize the deprivation of a person’s right to live save only for deaths resulting from acts of war.
(4) In this Article and the following Articles of this Part, “state of emergency” means any period during which the Proclamation of State of Emergency made by the President in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by Article 32, is in force. (Art. 31)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- EnglishWhereas every person in Botswana is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his or her race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest to each and all of the following, ...
the provisions of this Chapter shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to those rights and freedoms subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest. (Sec. 3)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English…
Any constitutional revision having for its object or for [its] effect the reduction of the rights and freedoms of the person or the reduction [of] the prerogatives of the Provinces and the decentralized territorial entities is formally prohibited. (Art. 220) - French…
Est formellement interdite toute révision constitutionnelle ayant pour objet ou pour effet de réduire les droits et libertés de la personne, ou de réduire les prérogatives des provinces et des entités territoriales décentralisées. (Art. 220)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) An Act of the National Assembly may authorise the taking, during any period of public emergency, of measures that are reasonably justifiable for dealing with the situation that exists in The Gambia.
(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of such an Act shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of sections 19, 23, 24 (other than subsections (5) to (8) thereof) or 25 of this Constitution to the extent that it is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances arising or existing during a period of public emergency for the purpose for dealing with the situation. (Sec. 35)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English...
(3) The rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights—
(a) belong to each individual and are not granted by the State;
(b) do not exclude other rights and fundamental freedoms not in the Bill of Rights, but recognised or conferred by law, except to the extent that they are inconsistent with this Chapter; and
(c) are subject only to the limitations contemplated in this Constitution. (Art. 19) - Swahili...
(3) Haki na uhuru wa msingi katika Sheria ya Haki za Binadamu-
(a) ni ya kila mtu na haitolewi na Serikali;
(b) haiondoi haki nyinginezo na uhuru wa msingi ambao haupo kwenye Sheria ya Haki za Binadamu, lakini hutambuliwa au hutolewa na sheria, isipokuwa kwa kiwango ambacho zipo kinyume na Sura hii; na
(c) huzingatia tu mipaka iliyobainishwa katika Katiba hii. (Kifungu cha 19)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English
1. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of a law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of section 58 or section 169 to the extent that the law authorises the taking during any period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for dealing with the situation that exists in Mauritius during that period:
Provided that no law, to the extent that it authorises the taking during a period of public emergency, other than a period during which Mauritius is at war, of measures that would be inconsistent with or in contravention of section 5 or section 16 if taken otherwise than during a period of public emergency, shall have effect unless there is in force a Proclamation of the President declaring that, because of the situation existing at the time, the measures authorised by the law are required in the interests of peace, order and good government.
… (Sec. 18)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English
(1) A declaration of a state of emergency cannot under any circumstances violate the right to life and physical and mental integrity of the person, the rights granted to people by law in relation to their status, capacity and nationality; the principle of nonretroactivity of criminal law, the right to defence and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
(2) A declaration of a state of emergency cannot under any circumstances affect powers of the President of the Republic, the Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister nor can it modify the principles relating to the responsibility of the State and public servants provided for in this Constitution. (Art. 136) - Kinyarwanda
(1) Gutangaza ibihe by’amage ntibishobora na rimwe kubangamira uburenganzira bwo kubaho, kudahungabanywa ku mubiri no mu mutwe, uburenganzira abantu bahabwa n’amategeko ku miterere n’ububasha byabo, ku bwenegihugu, ihame ry’uko itegeko mpanabyaha ridahana icyaha cyakozwe mbere y’uko rijyaho, uburenganzira bwo kwiregura n’ubwisanzure mu bitekerezo, mu mutimanama no ku idini.
(2) Gutangaza ibihe by’amage ntibishobora na rimwe kubangamira ububasha bwa Perezida wa Repubulika, ubw’Inteko Ishinga Amategeko, ubw’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga n’ubwa Minisitiri w’Intebe cyangwa guhindura amahame yerekeye ibyo Leta n’abakozi bayo bashobora kuryozwa hakurikijwe iri Tegeko Nshinga. (Ingingo ya 136) - French
(1) La déclaration de l’état d’urgence ne peut en aucun cas porter atteinte au droit à la vie, à l’intégrité physique et mentale, à l’état et à la capacité des personnes, à la nationalité, à la non-rétroactivité de la loi pénale, au droit de la défense ni à la liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion.
(2) La déclaration de l’état d’urgence ne peut en aucun cas affecter les compétences du Président de la République, du Parlement, de la Cour Suprême et du Premier Ministre ni modifier les principes de responsabilité de l’État et de ses agents consacrés par la présente Constitution. (Art. 136)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English
...
(5) The declaration of a State of Emergency may give the executive special powers that are necessary to deal with the situation only.
(6) The powers granted under a State of Emergency shall not include powers to violate the rights under this Constitution, unless that violation is absolutely necessary for the purposes of dealing with the emergency situation.
… (Art. 131) - Somali
...
(5) Ku-dhawaaqista xaaladda degdegga ah waxaa ay laanta fulinta siin kartaa awoodo gaar ah oo loogu baahan yahay wax ka qabashada xaaladda oo keliya.
(6) Awoodaha lagu bixiyo xaaladda degdegga ah gudaheeda kuma jirayaan awoodo loogu xadgudbayo xuquuqaha ku jira dastuurkan, haddii xadgudubkaasi aanu gebi ahaanba lagamamaarmaan u ahayn ujeeddooyinka wax ka qabashada xaaladda degdegga ah.
… (Qodobka 131aad.)