SEARCH DATABASE
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)
- English(1) All persons shall be equal before the law.
(2) A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.
(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 race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, gender, occupation, religion or creed, whereby persons of one description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another description which are not granted of persons of another description are not made subject or are granted privileges or advantages which are not granted to persons of another description.
(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are reasonably necessary to provide-
(a) for the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational imbalance in the Ghanaian society;
...
(d) for making different provision for different communities having regard to their special circumstances not being provision which is inconsistent with the spirit of this Constitution.
... (Art. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English...
(2) Nothing contained in Article 10 hereof shall prevent Parliament from enacting legislation providing directly or indirectly for the advancement of persons within Namibia who have been socially, economically or educationally disadvantaged by past discriminatory laws or practices, or for the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational imbalances in the Namibian society arising out of discriminatory laws or practices, or for achieving a balanced structuring of the public service, the defence force, the police force, and the correctional service.
(3) In the enactment of legislation and the application of any policies and practices contemplated by Sub-Article (2) hereof, it shall be permissible to have regard to the fact that women in Namibia have traditionally suffered special discrimination and that they need to be encouraged and enabled to play a full, equal and effective role in the political, social, economic and cultural life of the nation. (Art. 23)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe following shall be the fundamental tasks of the State:
…
e) To promote the well-being and quality of life of the Cabo Verdean people, especially the neediest, and to remove, in a progressive fashion, economic, social, cultural and political obstacles that hinder true equality of opportunity among citizens, especially factors of discrimination against women in the family and in the society;
… (Art. 7) - PortugueseSão tarefas fundamentais do Estado:
…
e) Promover o bem estar e a qualidade de vida do povo cabo-verdiano, designadamente dos mais carenciados, e remover progressivamente os obstáculos de natureza económica, social, cultural e política que impedem a real igualdade de oportunidades entre os cidadãos, especialmente os factores de discriminação da mulher na família e na sociedade;
… (Art. 7)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The State commits to protect the acquired rights of women and sees to consolidating and promoting them.
The State guarantees equal opportunities [chances] between men and women for access to the divers responsibilities and in all domains.
The State works towards consecrating parity between women and men in the elected assemblies.
… (Art. 51) - Arabic
تلتزم الدّولة بحماية الحقوق المكتسبة للمرأة وتعمل على دعمها وتطويرها.
تضمن الدّولة تكافؤ الفرص بين الرّجل والمرأة في تحمّل مختلف المسؤوليّات وفي جميع المجالات.
تسعى الدّولة إلى تحقيق التّناصف بين المرأة والرّجل في المجالس المنتخبة.
... (الفصل 51) - French
L’État s’engage à protéger les droits acquis de la femme et veille à les consolider et à les promouvoir.
L’État garantit l’égalité des chances entre l’homme et la femme pour l’accès aux diverses responsabilités et dans tous les domaines.
L’État s’emploie à consacrer la parité entre la femme et l’homme dans les assemblées élues.
... (Art. 51)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English...
(2) No law enacted by any authority in the United Republic shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
(4) No person shall be discriminated against by any person or any authority acting under any law or in the discharge of the functions or business of any state office.
(5) For the purposes of this Article the expression “discriminate” means to satisfy the needs, rights or other requirements of different persons on the basis of their nationality, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, sex or station in life such that certain categories of people are regarded as weak or inferior and are subjected to restrictions or conditions whereas persons of other categories are treated differently or are accorded opportunities or advantage outside the specified conditions or the prescribed necessary qualifications except that the word “discrimination” shall not be construed in a manner that will prohibit the Government from taking purposeful steps aimed at rectifying disabilities in the society.
… (Art. 13)
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 woman has the same rights as the man.
The law guarantees parity and assures the promotion as well as the representativeness of women in all political, elective and administrative functions. (Art. 17) - FrenchLa femme a les mêmes droits que l’homme.
La loi garantit la parité et assure la promotion ainsi que la représentativité de la femme à toutes les fonctions politiques, électives et administratives. (Art. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (7) of this section, 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, tribe, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex 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-
...
(e) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subjected 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.
... (Sec. 15)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The State of Rwanda commits itself to upholding and ensuring respect for the following fundamental principles:
…
(d) building a State governed by the rule of law, a pluralistic democratic Government, equality of all Rwandans and between women and men which is affirmed by women occupying at least 30% of positions in decision-making organs;
… (Art. 10) - Kinyarwanda
Leta y’u Rwanda yiyemeje kugendera ku mahame remezo akurikira no gutuma yubahirizwa:
…
(d) kubaka Leta igendera ku mategeko n’ubutegetsi bwa demokarasi ishingiye ku bitekerezo bya politiki binyuranye, uburinganire bw’Abanyarwanda bose n’ubw’abagore n’abagabo bushimangirwa n’uko abagore bagira nibura 30% by’imyanya mu nzego zifatirwamo ibyemezo;
… (Ingingo ya 10) - French
L’Etat du Rwanda s’engage à se conformer aux principes fondamentaux suivants et à les faire respecter:
…
(d) l’édification d’un État de droit et d’un régime démocratique pluraliste, l’égalité de tous les Rwandais et l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes reflétée par l’attribution aux femmes d’au moins 30% des postes dans les instances de prise de décisions;
… (Art. 10)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe Union of the Comoros recognizes and guarantees to the youth and to women the right of access to the political instances of local and national representation. (Art. 34)
- Arabicيعترف اتحاد جزر القمر بحق الشباب والمرأة في الوصول إلى التمثيل السياسي المحلي والوطني ويضمنه. (المادة 34)
- FrenchL’Union des Comores reconnait et garantit à la jeunesse et aux femmes le droit d’accès aux instances politiques de représentation locale et nationale. (Art. 34)