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.
ABOUT 13234 RESULTS
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Saint Lucia
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (7), 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) 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) 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. 13)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Kenya
- 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)
Lesotho
- 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)
Vanuatu
- English1. The Republic of Vanuatu recognises, that, subject to any restrictions imposed by law on non-citizens and holders of dual citizenship who are not indigenous or naturalised citizens, all persons are entitled to the following fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual without discrimination on the grounds of race, place of origin, religious or traditional beliefs, political opinions, language or sex but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and to the legitimate public interest in defence, safety, public order, welfare and health-
…
k. equal treatment under the law or administrative action, except that no law shall be inconsistent with this sub-paragraph insofar as it makes provision for the special benefit, welfare, protection or advancement of females, children and young persons, members of under-privileged groups or inhabitants of less developed areas.
… (Art. 5) - French1) Sous réserve des restrictions que la Loi peut imposer aux non-citoyens et aux détenteurs de la double nationalité qui ne sont pas indigènes ou citoyens naturalisés et dans le respect des droits et libertés d'autrui et de l'intérêt public légitime en matière de défense, de sécurité, d'ordre public, de prospérité et de santé, la République de Vanuatu reconnaît que toute personne, sans distinction de race, lieu d'origine, croyances religieuses ou traditionnelles, opinions politiques, langue ou sexe jouit des droits fondamentaux et les libertés individuelles suivants:
...
k) un traitement égal devant la Loi ou l'action administrative, étant entendu qu'une loi ne contrevient pas aux dispositions du présent alinéa dans la mesure où elle prévoit des dispositions pour le bénéfice particulier, le bien-être, la protection ou l'amélioration des conditions des femmes, des enfants et des jeunes, des membres de catégories défavorisées, ou des habitants de zones moins développées.
... (Art. 5)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Timor-Leste
- English…
2. The law shall promote equality in the exercise of civil and political rights and non-discrimination on the basis of gender for access to political positions. (Sec. 63) - Tetum…
2. Lei halo promosaun kona-ba igualdade direitu síviku no polítiku nian no la diskrimina kona-ba seksu iha asesu ba kargu polítiku nian. (Art. 63) - Portuguese…
2. A lei promove a igualdade no exercício dos direitos cívicos e políticos e a não discriminação em função do sexo no acesso a cargos políticos. (Art. 63)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Eswatini
- English…
(5) The State shall afford equality of economic opportunity to all citizens and, in particular, the State shall take all necessary steps so as to ensure the full integration of women into the mainstream of economic development.
… (Sec. 59)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Malawi
- 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)
Namibia
- 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)
Mexico
- English...
I. The political parties are entities of public interest; … In the nomination [postulación] of their candidatures, the principle of parity of gender will be observed.
The political parties have as [their] objective ... to promote the principle of parity of gender, ... in accordance with the programs, principles and ideas they postulate and by way of universal, free, secret and direct suffrage, as well as the regulations that the electoral law specifies [marque] to guarantee the parity of gender, in candidatures to the different offices of popular election.
... (Art. 41) - Spanish…
I. Los partidos políticos son entidades de interés público; … En la postulación de sus candidaturas, se observará el principio de paridad de género.
Los partidos políticos tienen como fin ... fomentar el principio de paridad de género, ... de acuerdo con los programas, principios e ideas que postulan y mediante el sufragio universal, libre, secreto y directo, así como con las reglas que marque la ley electoral para garantizar la paridad de género, en las candidaturas a los distintos cargos de elección popular.
… (Art. 41)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Angola
- EnglishThe fundamental tasks of the Angolan state shall be:
…
k) To promote equality between men and women;
… (Art. 21) - PortugueseConstituem tarefas fundamentais do Estado angolano:
…
k) Promover a igualdade entre o homem e a mulher;
… (Art. 21)