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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.
Marriage and Family Life
- English
(1) The right to marry and found a family is guaranteed by law.
(2) A civil monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is the only recognised marital union.
(3) However, a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman contracted outside Rwanda in accordance with the law of the country of celebration of the marriage is recognised.
(4) No one can enter into marriage without his or her free and full consent.
(5) Spouses are entitled to equal rights and obligations at the time of marriage, during the marriage and at the time of divorce.
(6) A law determines conditions, formalities and effects of marriage. (Art. 17) - Kinyarwanda
(1) Uburenganzira bwo gushyingiranwa no kugira umuryango burengerwa n’amategeko.
(2) Ugushyingiranwa k’umugabo umwe n’umugore umwe gukorewe mu butegetsi bwa Leta ni ko kwemewe.
(3) Icyakora, ugushyingiranwa k’umugabo umwe n’umugore umwe gukorewe mu mahanga mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko y’Igihugu basezeraniyemo kuremewe.
(4) Ntawe ushobora gushyingirwa atabyemeye ku bushake bwe busesuye.
(5) Abashyingiranywe bafite uburenganzira n’inshingano bingana mu gihe cyo gushyingiranwa, igihe babana n’igihe cyo gutandukana.
(6) Itegeko rigena ibigomba gukurikizwa, uburyo n’inkurikizi z’ubushyingiranwe. (Ingingo ya 17) - French
(1) Le droit de se marier et de fonder une famille est garanti par la loi.
(2) Le mariage civil monogamique entre un homme et une femme est la seule union conjugale reconnue.
(3) Toutefois, le mariage monogamique entre un homme et une femme contractée à l’étranger conformément à la loi du pays de célébration de ce mariage est reconnu.
(4) Nul ne peut contracter le mariage sans son libre et plein consentement.
(5) Les époux ont les mêmes droits et les mêmes obligations au moment du mariage, dans le mariage et lors du divorce.
(6) Une loi détermine les conditions, les formalités et les effets du mariage. (Art. 17)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
… protection of maternity and of infancy … constitute the social and cultural rights recognized by this Constitution which sees to their promotion. (Art. 18)
- French
… la protection de la maternité et de l’enfance … constituent des droits sociaux et culturels reconnus par la présente Constitution qui vise à les promouvoir. (Art. 18)
Marriage and Family Life
- 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—
…
d. with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other interests of personal law;
… (Sec. 27)
Marriage and Family Life
- English1. Fathers and mothers must render assistance to children born in or out of wedlock, particularly with respect to their feeding, maintenance and upbringing.
2. Fathers and mothers shall have the right to protection by the society and by the State as regards the realization of their irreplaceable role in relation to children.
3. Fatherhood and motherhood shall constitute eminent social values. (Art. 89) - Portuguese1. Os pais e as mães devem prestar assistência aos filhos nascidos dentro e fora do casamento, nomeadamente quanto à sua alimentação, guarda e educação.
2. Os pais e as mães têm direito à protecção da sociedade e do Estado na realização da sua insubstituível acção em relação aos filhos.
3. A paternidade e a maternidade constituem valores sociais eminentes. (Art. 89)
Marriage and Family Life
- English(1) Every person is entitled to respect and protection of his person, the privacy of his own person, his family and of his matrimonial life, and respect and protection of his residence and private communications.
… (Art. 16)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
The State is committed to guaranteeing the specific needs of vulnerable persons.
It takes the measures necessary to prevent the vulnerability of children, of women, of mothers, of the elderly and of the persons with disabilities [situation de handicap].
… (Art. 32) - French
L’Etat s’engage à garantir les besoins spécifiques des personnes vulnérables.
Il prend les mesures nécessaires pour prévenir la vulnérabilité des enfants, des femmes, des mères, des personnes âgées et des personnes en situation de handicap.
… (Art. 32)
Marriage and Family Life
- English…
(2) The State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must endeavour to secure—
…
(d) the implementation of measures such as family care that enable women to enjoy a real opportunity to work. (Sec. 24)
Marriage and Family Life
- English…
2. The State shall encourage values of community solidarity and love and respect of the family.
… (Art. 9)
Marriage and Family Life
- English…
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5), no law shall make any provision which is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
(4) In this section, the expression "discrimination" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, colour, gender, 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.
(5) Subsection (2) shall not apply to any law in so far as that law makes provision—
…
(c) with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
… (Sec. 33)
Marriage and Family Life
- English(1) Parliament shall enact such laws as are necessary to ensure that—
(a) every child has the right to the same measure of special care, assistance and maintenance as is necessary for its development from its natural parents, except where those parents have effectively surrendered their rights and responsibilities in respect of the child in accordance with law;
(b) every child, whether or not born in wedlock, shall be entitled to reasonable provision out of the estate of its parents;
(c) parents undertake their natural right and obligation of care, maintenance and upbringing of their children in co-operation with such institutions as Parliament may, by law, prescribe in such manner that in all cases the interest of the children are paramount;
…
(e) the protection and advancement of the family as the unit of society are safeguarded in promotion of the interest of children.
…
(5) For the purposes of this article, “child” means a person below the age of eighteen years. (Art. 28)