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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
- EnglishThe State guarantees the social, economic, and juridical protection of the family. It will promote its organization on the legal basis of marriage, the equal rights of the spouses, [the] responsible paternity and the right of the persons to decide freely the number and the spacing [espaciamiento] of their children. (Art. 47)
- SpanishEl Estado garantiza la protección social, económica y jurídica de la familia. Promoverá su organización sobre la base legal del matrimonio, la igualdad de derechos de los cónyuges, la paternidad responsable y el derecho de las personas a decir libremente el número y espaciamiento de sus hijos. (Art. 47)
Marriage and Family Life
- EnglishThe right to marry and to have a family is guaranteed. (Art. 14)
- FrenchLe droit au mariage et à la famille est garanti. (Art. 14)
- GermanDas Recht auf Ehe und Familie ist gewährleistet. (Art. 14)
- ItalianIl diritto al matrimonio e alla famiglia è garantito. (Art. 14)
Marriage and Family Life
- English(1) On and after the 14th day of June, 1978, no Court having jurisdiction under the laws of Sierra Leone shall, by virtue of the Colonial and Other Territories (Divorce Jurisdiction) Act, 1926 to 1950, have jurisdiction to make a decree for the dissolution of a marriage, or as incidental thereto to make an order as to any matter, unless proceedings for the decree were instituted before the commencement of this Constitution.
(2) Except as provided by subsection (1) and subject to any provision to the contrary which may be made on or after the commencement of this Constitution by or under any law made by any legislature established for Sierra Leone, all courts having jurisdiction under the laws of Sierra Leone shall on and after that day have the same jurisdiction under the said Acts as they would have had if this Constitution had not been passed.
(3) The reference in subsection (1) to proceedings for the dissolution of a marriage includes references to proceedings for such a decree of presumption of death and dissolution of marriage as is authorised by section 1 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1950. (Sec. 184)
Marriage and Family Life
- EnglishResponsible maternity and paternity will be protected by the State, which will promote the creation of [the] necessary institutions to these ends. (Art. 55)
- SpanishLa maternidad y la paternidad responsables serán protegidas por el Estado, el cual fomentará la creación de instituciones necesarias para dichos fines. (Art. 55)
Marriage and Family Life
- EnglishThe family is the cornerstone of the community. The fundamental principles on which the family is based are, religion, ethics and patriotism. The law safeguards the family’s existence and maintains and protects it from corruption. (Art. 15)
- Arabicاﻷﺳﺮﺓ اﺳﺎﺱ اﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻊ ﻗﻮاﻣﻬﺎ اﻟﺪﻳﻦ واﻻﺧﻼﻕ وﺣﺐ اﻟ ﻮﻃﻦ، وﻳﻜﻔﻞ اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮﻥ ﻛﻴﺎﻧﻬﺎ ، وﻳﺼﻮﻧﻬﺎ وﻳﺤﻤﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻻﻧﺤ ﺮاﻑ. (المادّة 15)
Marriage and Family Life
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (8) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
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3. In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, 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) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
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c. for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;
… (Sec. 15)
Marriage and Family Life
- English1. The National Assembly shall exclusively have the power to legislate on the following matters, except in cases of legislative authorization granted to the Government:
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b) State and capacity of persons, family and estate laws;
… (Art. 177) - Portuguese1. Compete, exclusivamente, à Assembleia Nacional, salvo autorização legislativa concedida ao Governo, fazer leis sobre as seguintes matérias:
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b) Estado e capacidade das pessoas, direito de família e das sucessões;
… (Art. 177)
Marriage and Family Life
- EnglishThe State has the obligation to assure the protection of marriage and of the family.
Parents have the duty to provide for the support and the education of their children. They are supported in this task by the State.
Children, whether they are born within marriage or outside of marriage, have the right to the same familial and social protection. (Art. 31) - FrenchL’Etat a l’obligation d’assurer la protection du mariage et la famille.
Les parents ont le devoir de pourvoir à l’entretien et à l’éducation de leurs enfants. Ils sont soutenus dans cette tâche par l'Etat.
Les enfants, qu'ils soient nés dans le mariage ou hors mariage, ont droit à la même protection familiale et sociale. (Art. 31)
Marriage and Family Life
- EnglishWHEREAS the People of Saint Lucia-
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(e) realise that human dignity requires respect for spiritual values; for private family life and property; and the enjoyment of an adequate standard of economic and social well-being dependent upon the resources of the State;
… (Preamble)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
(1) The Federation has powers of legislation and execution in the following matters:
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7. … matters pertaining to personal status, including the registration of births, marriages and deaths, and change of name;
… (Art. 10) - German
(1) Bundessache ist die Gesetzgebung und die Vollziehung in folgenden Angelegenheiten:
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7. … Personenstandsangelegenheiten einschließlich des Matrikenwesens und der Namensänderung;
… (Art. 10)