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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…
(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—
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(b) achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices;
… (Art. 35)
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.
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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...
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)
- 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)
- English…
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the aboriginal and treaty rights referred to in subsection (1) are guaranteed equally to male and female persons. (Constitution Act 1982, Sec. 35) - French…
(4) Indépendamment de toute autre disposition de la présente loi, les droits — ancestraux ou issus de traités — visés au paragraphe (1) sont garantis également aux personnes des deux sexes. (Loi constitutionnelle de 1982, Sec. 35)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
Statutes shall promote equal access by women and men to elective offices and posts as well as to position of professional and social responsibility. (1958 Constitution, Art. 1) - French…
La loi favorise l'égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux et fonctions électives, ainsi qu'aux responsabilités professionnelles et sociales. (Constitution 1958, Art. 1er)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe members of the Government make or propose the appointments in the public administration and to the diplomatic posts taking into account the necessity to maintain an ethnic, regional, political and gender equilibrium. (Art. 140)
- KirundiAbagize Leta nibo bagena canke bagashikiriza abagenwa mu mabanga y’intwaro mu gihugu hamwe n’abaserukira Uburundi mu makungu bisunze kunganisha amoko, intara, imigambwe n’ibitsina. (Ingingo ya 140)
- FrenchLes membres du Gouvernement font ou proposent les nominations dans l’administration publique et aux postes diplomatiques en prenant en compte la nécessité de maintenir un équilibre ethnique, régional, politique et entre les genres. (Art. 140)