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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(1) Every person is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law.
(2) Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and fundamental freedoms.
(3) Women and men have the right to equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres.
(4) The State shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth.
(5) A person shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against another person on any of the grounds specified or contemplated in clause (4).
(6) To give full effect to the realisation of the rights guaranteed under this Article, the State shall take legislative and other measures, including affirmative action3 programmes and policies designed to redress any disadvantage suffered by individuals or groups because of past discrimination.
(7) Any measure taken under clause (6) shall adequately provide for any benefits to be on the basis of genuine need.
(8) In addition to the measures contemplated in clause (6), the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender. (Art. 27) - Swahili(1) Watu wote ni sawa mbele ya sheria, na wanayo haki, bila ya ubaguzi wowote, kulindwa na kupata haki sawa mbele ya sheria.
(2) Haki sawa ni pamoja na kurufahia kikamilifu na kwa usawa haki zote na uhuru wa msingi.
(3) Wanawake na wanaume wana haki ya kutendewa kwa usawa, ikiwa ni pamoja na haki ya kuwa na fursa sawa katika nyanja za kisiasa, kiuchumi, kiutamaduni na kijamii.
(4) Serikali haitambagua mtu yeyote kwa dhahiri au si kwa dhahiri kwa msingi wowote ikiwa ni pamoja na mbari, jinsi, mimba, hali ya ndoa, hali ya afya, asili ya kikabila au kijamii, rangi, umri, ulemavu, dini, dhamiri, imani, utamaduni, mavazi, lugha au kuzaliwa.
(5) Mtu yeyote hatambagua mtu yeyote kwa dhahiri ama si kwa dhahiri kwa misingi yoyote iliyobaisnishwa katika ibara ya (4).
(6) Ili kutekeleza kikamilifu utekelezaji wa haki zilizohakikishwa chini ya Ibara hii, Serikali itachukua hatua za kisheria na hatua nyinginezo, pamoja na mipango na sera thabiti za utekelezaji zilizoundwa ili kufidia unyimwaji wa haki ambao uliwapata watu au kikundi cha watu kwa sababu ya ubaguzi wa zamani.
(7) Hatua yoyote inayochukuliwa chini ya ibara ya (6) itatoa kikamilifu maslahi kwa msingi wa hitaji la kweli.
(8) Pamoja na hatua zilizobainishwa katika ibara ya (6), Serikali itachukua hatua za kisheria na hatua nyinginezo ili kutekeleza kanuni ambayo itahakikisha kwamba washirika wa bodi wa kuchaguliwa au kuteuliwa wa jinsia moja hawatakuwa zaidi ya theluthi mbili. (Kifungu cha 27)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Lesotho shall adopt policies aimed at promoting a society based on equality and justice for all its citizens regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. In particular, the State shall take appropriate measures in order to promote equality of opportunity for the disadvantaged groups in the society to enable them to participate fully in all spheres of public life. (Sec. 26)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State shall ensure gender balance and fair representation of marginalised groups on all constitutional and other bodies. (National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, VI)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe National and state governments shall have legislative and executive competences on any of the matters listed below:
…
18. Empowerment of women;
19. Gender policy;
… (Schedule (C): Concurrent Powers)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The political parties and the groupings of political parties legally recognized participate [concourent] in the expression of suffrage. They form themselves and exercise their activity freely, within the framework established by the law, according to the principles of multipartism.
They contribute to the equal access of women, of men, of young [persons] and of the handicapped to the electoral mandates, within the conditions established by the law.
... (Art. 6) - French
Les partis politiques et les groupements de partis politiques légalement reconnus concourent à l'expression du suffrage. Ils se forment et exercent leur activité librement, dans le cadre fixé par la loi, selon les principes du multipartisme.
Ils contribuent à l'égal accès des femmes, des hommes, des jeunes et des handicapés aux mandats électoraux, dans les conditions fixées par la loi.
... (Art. 6)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
The public powers work for the creation of the conditions permitting the effectiveness of liberty and of the equality of citizens to be made general [généraliser], as well as their participation in political, economic, cultural and social life.
… (Art. 6) - Arabic…
تعمل السّلطات العمومية على توفير الظروف التي تمكّن من تعميم الطّابع الفعلي لحرية المواطنات والمواطنين، والمساواة بينهم، ومن مشاركتهم في الحياة السياسيّة والاقتصاديّة والثقافيّة والاجتماعيّة.
… (الفصل 6)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State works for the promotion of the political rights of the woman for a better representation within the elected assemblies, the institutions and the public and private administrations.
The modalities of application of this Article are established by the law. (Art. 34) - Arabicتعمل الدولة على تعزيز الحقوق السياسية للمرأة من أجل تمثيل أفضل في المجالس المنتخبة والمؤسسات والإدارات الخاصة والعامة.
يحدد القانون طرائق تطبيق هذه المادة. (المادة 34) - FrenchL'Etat œuvre à la promotion des droits politiques de la femme par une meilleure représentation dans les assemblées élues, les institutions et administrations publiques et privées.
Les modalités d'application de cet article sont fixées par la loi. (Art. 34)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(2) The need for a Commission established by this Chapter2 to reflect broadly the race and gender composition of South Africa must be considered when members are appointed.
… (Sec. 193)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State shall actively promote the welfare and development of the people of Malawi by progressively adopting and implementing policies and legislation aimed at achieving the following goals—
a. Gender Equality
To obtain gender equality through—
(i) full participation of women in all spheres of Malawian society on the basis of equal opportunities with men;
(ii) the implementation of the principles of nondiscrimination and such other measures as may be required;
… (Sec. 13)
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 sex, 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-
…
(d) 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 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.
… (Sec. 16)