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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.
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law.
2. Without prejudice to clause (l) of this article, a person shall not be discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.
3. For the purposes of this article, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.
4. Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are necessary for-
a. implementing policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic, educational or other imbalance in society;
b. making such provision as is required or authorised to be made under this Constitution; or
… (Art. 21)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people by adopting, inter alia, policies aimed at the following:
(a) enactment of legislation to ensure equality of opportunity for women, to enable them to participate fully in all spheres of Namibian society;
… (Art. 95)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State and the Autonomous Collectivities create the conditions and the institutions which assure and guarantee … the promotion of gender … (Art. 40)
- Arabicتهيئ الدولة والجماعات المستقلة الظروف والمؤسسات التي تؤمن وتضمن... تعزيز المنظور الجنساني ... (المادة 40)
- FrenchL'Etat et les Collectivités Autonomes créent les conditions et les institutions qui assurent et garantissent … la promotion du genre … (Art. 40)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe elections of the Deputies take place following the ballot of bloc lists [listes bloquées] by proportional representation. These lists must have a multi-ethnic character and take into account the equilibrium between men and women. For three candidates registered together [inscrits à la suite] on a list, only two may belong to the same ethnic group, and at least one in three must be a woman. (Art. 173)
- KirundiAmatora y’abashingamateka ashingira ku rutonde rwugaye rw’amazina rwashikirijwe, bagatorwa hisunzwe amajwi baronse. Urutonde rwose rw’ayo mazina rutegerezwa kurangwa n’uko amoko yose yaserukiwe kandi hakaba harimwo abagabo n’abakenyezi. Ku bitoza batatu bari ku rutonde rumwe, babiri gusa ni bo baba basangiye ubwoko kandi n’imiburiburi umwe kuri batatu ategerezwa kuba ari umugore. (Ingingo ya 173)
- FrenchLes élections des députés se déroulement suivant le scrutin des listes bloquées à la représentation proportionnelle. Ces listes doivent avoir un caractère multiethnique et tenir compte de l’équilibre entre les hommes et les femmes. Pour trois candidats inscrits à la suite sur une liste, deux seulement peuvent appartenir au même groupe ethnique, et au moins un sur trois doit être une femme. (Art. 173)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(5) The State shall actively promote the integration of the peoples of Ghana and prohibit discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of place of origin, circumstances of birth, ethnic origin, gender or religion, creed or other beliefs.
(6) Towards the achievement of the objectives stated in clause (5) of this article, the State shall take appropriate measures to—
…
(b) achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices;
… (Art. 35)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English...
3. Women shall have the right to participate equally with men in public life.
4. All levels of government shall:
a. promote women participation in public life and their representation in the legislative and executive organs by at least twenty-five per cent2 as an affirmative action to redress imbalances created by history, customs, and traditions;
… (Art. 16)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, every member of a Commission is appointed for a term of five years which is renewable for one additional term only.
…
(4) Where a Commission has a chairperson and a deputy chairperson, they must be of different genders.
… (Sec. 320)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
…
24) The State favors the equal access of women and of men to the electoral mandates as well as to the political and professional responsibilities. (Art. 1) - French
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24°) L'Etat favorise l'égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux ainsi qu'aux responsabilités politiques et professionnelles. (Art. 1)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
…
- RECOGNIZING that the promotion of gender is a factor for realization of the equality of law [droit] between men and women of Burkina Faso;
… (Preamble) - French
…
RECONNAISSANT que la promotion du genre est un facteur de réalisation de l’égalité de droit entre hommes et femmes au Burkina Faso;
… (Préambule)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) no law shall make any provision that 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, colour, sex, 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.
4. Subsection (1) shall not apply to any law to the extent that that law makes provision—
…
e. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be made subject 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.
Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the making of laws in pursuance of the principle of State Policy of promoting a society based on equality and justice for all the citizens of Lesotho and thereby removing any discriminatory law.
... (Sec. 18)