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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…
(4) The State shall ensure gender balance and fair representation of marginalized groups in all constitutional and other bodies.
… (Sec. 60)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
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All human beings are equal before the law. Men and Women are equal in right [droit].
The law promotes [favorise] the equal access of women and men to the mandates and functions.
… (Art. 7) - French
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Tous les êtres humains sont égaux devant la loi. Les hommes et les femmes sont égaux en droit.
La loi favorise l’égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats et fonctions.
... (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(1) The State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must endeavour to facilitate rapid and equitable development, and in particular must take measures to—
(a) promote private initiative and self-reliance;
(b) foster agricultural, commercial, industrial, technological and scientific development;
(c) foster the development of industrial and commercial enterprises in order to empower Zimbabwean citizens; and
(d) bring about balanced development of the different areas of Zimbabwe, in particular a proper balance in the development of rural and urban areas.
(2) Measures referred to in this section must involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them.
(3) Measures referred to in this section must protect and enhance the right of the people, particularly women, to equal opportunities in development.
… (Sec. 13)
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.
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(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)
- English(1) Subject to subsections (4), (5) and (7), 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, birth out of wedlock, political opinions or affiliations, colour, sex 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 that 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-
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(d) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that, 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...
A. This Constitution recognizes and guarantees the right of indigenous peoples and communities to self-determination and, consequently, to the autonomy to:
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VII. Elect, in the municipalities with indigenous population, representatives to the ayuntamientos [local or town councils], observing the principle of parity of gender in accordance with the applicable norms.
The constitutions and laws of the federative entities recognize and regulate these rights in the municipalities, with the aim of strengthening the political participation and representation in accordance with their traditions and internal norms.
... (Art. 2) - Spanish...
A. Esta Constitución reconoce y garantiza el derecho de los pueblos y las comunidades indígenas a la libre determinación y, en consecuencia, a la autonomía para:
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VII. Elegir, en los municipios con población indígena, representantes ante los ayuntamientos, observando el principio de paridad de género conforme a las normas aplicables.
Las constituciones y leyes de las entidades federativas reconocerán y regularán estos derechos en los municipios, con el propósito de fortalecer la participación y representación política de conformidad con sus tradiciones y normas internas.
... (Art. 2)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) All citizens shall be equal before law. No person shall be denied the equal protection of law.
(2) No discrimination shall be made in the application of general laws on grounds of origin, religion, race, caste, tribe, sex, physical condition, condition of health, marital status, pregnancy, economic condition, language or region, ideology or on similar other grounds.
(3) The State shall not discriminate citizens on grounds of origin, religion, race, caste, tribe, sex, economic condition, language, region, ideology or on similar other grounds.
Provided that nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of special provisions by law for the protection, empowerment or development of the citizens including the socially or culturally backward women, Dalit, indigenous people, indigenous nationalities, Madhesi, Tharu, Muslim, oppressed class, Pichhada class, minorities, the marginalized, farmers, labours, youths, children, senior citizens, gender and sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, persons in pregnancy, incapacitated or helpless, backward region and indigent Khas Arya.
… (Art. 18) - Nepali(१) सबै नागरिक कानूनको दृष्टिमा समान हुनेछन् । कसैलाई पनि कानूनको समान संरक्षणबाट वञ्चित गरिने छैन ।
(२) सामान्य कानूनको प्रयोगमा उत्पत्ति, धर्म, वर्ण, जात, जाति, लिंग, शारीरिक अवस्था, अपांगता, स्वास्थ्य स्थिति, वैवाहिक स्थिति, गर्भावस्था, आरक अवस्था, भाषा वा क्षेत्र, वैचारिक आस्था वा यस्तै अन्य कुनै आधारमा भेदभाव गरिने छैन ।
(३) राज्यले नागरिकहरूका बीच उत्पत्ति, धर्म, वर्ण, जात, जाति, लिंग,आर्थिक अवस्था, भाषा, क्षेत्र, वैचारिक आस्था वा यस्तै अन्य कुनै आधारमा भेदभाव गर्ने छैन ।
तर सामाजिक वा सांस्कृतिक दृष्टिले पिछडिएका महिला, दलित, आदिवासी, आदिवासी जनजाति, मधेशी, थारू, मुस्लिम, उत्पीडित वर्ग, पिछडा वर्ग, अल्पसंख्यक, सीमान्तीकृत, किसान, श्रमिक, युवा, बालबालिका, ज्येष्ठ नागरिक, लैंगिक तथा यौनिक अल्पसंख्यक, अपांगता भएका व्यक्ति, गर्भावस्थाका व्यक्ति, अशक्त वा असहाय, पिछडिएको क्षेत्र र आर्थिक रूपले विपन्न खस आर्य लगायत नागरिकको संरक्षण, सशक्तीकरण वा विकासका लागि कानून बमोजिम विशेष व्यवस्था गर्न रोक लगाएको मानिने छैन ।
... (धारा १८)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
…
(3) Women and men are equal in rights and in duties.
The State sees to active promotion of elimination of impediments which may exist in matters of equality between women and men.
... (Art. 15)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the State shall take affirmative action in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom, for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them.
2. Laws, cultures, customs and traditions which are against the dignity, welfare or interest of women or any other marginalised group to which clause (1) relates or which undermine their status, are prohibited by this Constitution.
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5. Parliament shall make laws for the purpose of giving full effect to this article. (Art. 32)