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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)
- 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 State has the duty to put in place a policy of reforms pertinent to matters of defense and of security that reinforces the unity and the cohesion of the Burundian People, notably by assuring the necessary ethnic, regional and gender equilibriums. (Art. 261)
- KirundiLeta itegerezwa gushinga umugambi wo guhindura biboneka ivyerekeye kurwanira n’ugucungera umutekano bituma ubumwe n’umwumvikano w’abanyagihugu bikomera cane cane ku kuwurangura ku buryo abarundi bose bo mu moko yose, intara zose n’ibitsina vyose baserukirwa muri izo nzego. (Ingingo ya 261)
- FrenchL’Etat a le devoir de mettre en place une politique des réformes pertinentes en matière de défense et de sécurité qui renforce l’unité et la cohésion du peuple burundais, notamment en assurant les équilibres ethniques, régionaux et de genres nécessaires. (Art. 261)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(3) Every person has the right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner on such grounds as their nationality, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language, class, religious belief, political affiliation, opinion, custom, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability or economic or social status, or whether they were born in or out of wedlock.
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(6) The State must take reasonable legislative and other measures to promote the achievement of equality and to protect or advance people or classes of people who have been disadvantaged by unfair discrimination, and—
(a) such measures must be taken to redress circumstances of genuine need;
(b) no such measure is to be regarded as unfair for the purposes of subsection (3). (Sec. 56)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
The political parties must respect the principles of representation of gender … (Art. 31) - French…
Les partis politiques doivent respecter les principes de représentation du genre … (Art. 31)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State shall ensure the achievement of equality between women and men in all civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
The State shall take the necessary measures to ensure the appropriate representation of women in the houses of representatives, as specified by Law. The State shall also guarantee women’s right of holding public and senior management offices in the State and their appointment in judicial bodies and authorities without discrimination.
… (Art. 11) - Arabicتكفل الدّولة تحقيق المساواة بين المرأة والرجل فى جميع الحقوق المدنية والسياسية والاقتصاديّة والاجتماعيّة والثقافيّة وفقا لأحكام هذا الدّستور.
وتعمل الدّولة على اتخاذ التّدابير الكفيلة بضمان تمثيل المرأة تمثيلاً مناسبا فى المجالس النيابية، على النحو الذي يحدّده القانون، كما تكفل للمرأة حقّها فى تولّى الوظائف العامّة ووظائف الإدارة العليا فى الدّولة والتّعيين فى الجهات والهيئات القضائية، دون تمييز ضدّها.
... (المادّة 11)
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.
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(4) Where a Commission has a chairperson and a deputy chairperson, they must be of different genders.
… (Sec. 320)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
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The law favors the equal access of women and of men to the electoral mandates and elective functions. (Art. 3) - Arabic
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يحبذ القانون الوصول المتكافي للمرأة والرجل إلى الولايات والوظائف الانتخابية. (المادّة 3) - French
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La loi favorise l’égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux et fonctions électives. (Art. 3)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe Superior Council of the Judicial Power is presided over by the King. It is composed:
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• a representation of [women] magistrates must be assured, from among the ten members elected, in proportion to their presence in the corps of the magistrature;
… (Art. 115) - Arabicيرأس الملك المجلس الأعلى للسّلطة القضائية، ويتألّف هذا المجلس من:
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• ويجب ضمان تمثيلية النساء القاضيات من بين الأعضاء العشرة المنتخبين، بما يتناسب مع حضورهن داخل السلك القضائي،
… (الفصل 115)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) 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) For the avoidance of any doubt, a person shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion, age or disability.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, birth, tribe, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion, age or disability.
(4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5) Parliament shall not be competent to enact a law that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
(5) Nothing in this section shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are necessary for implementing policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational or other imbalances in society. (Sec. 20)
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.
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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, 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—
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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)