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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.
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWhereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is indispensable for freedom, justice and peace;
Whereas the said rights include the right of the individual to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race, colour, ethnic origin, sex, religion, creed or social or economic status;
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Whereas we the people of Namibia -
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committed to these principles, have resolved to constitute the Republic of Namibia as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State securing to all our citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity,
… (Preamble)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
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(2) Propagation of ethnic, regional, racial discrimination or any other form of division is punished by law. (Art. 37) - Kinyarwanda
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(2) Kwamamaza ivangura rishingiye ku isanomuzi, ku karere, ku bwoko cyangwa ku macakubiri ayo ari yo yose bihanwa n’amategeko. (Ingingo ya 37) - French
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(2) Toute propagande à caractère ethnique, régionaliste, raciste ou basée sur toute autre forme de division est punie par la loi. (Art. 37)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English1. Everyone shall be equal under the Constitution and by law.
2. No-one may be discriminated against, privileged, deprived of any right or exempted from any duty on the basis of ancestry, sex, race, ethnicity, colour, disability, language, place of birth, religion, political, ideological or philosophical beliefs, level of education or economic, social or professional status. (Art. 23) - Portuguese1. Todos são iguais perante a Constituição e a lei.
2. Ninguém pode ser prejudicado, privilegiado, privado de qualquer direito ou isento de qualquer dever em razão da sua ascendência, sexo, raça, etnia, cor, deficiência, língua, local de nascimento, religião, convicções políticas, ideológicas ou filosóficas, grau de instrução, condição económica ou social ou profissão. (Art. 23)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWe, the people of South Africa…
We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to- …
Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law; … (Preamble)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English...
We, people of Cameroon,
Declare that the human person, without distinction as to race, religion, sex or belief, possesses inalienable and sacred rights;
Affirm our attachment to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations and The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and all duly ratified international conventions relating thereto, in particular, to the following principles:
(1) all persons shall have equal rights and obligations. The State shall provide all its citizens with the conditions necessary for their development;
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(25) the State shall guarantee all citizens of either sex the rights and freedoms set forth in the Preamble of the Constitution. (Preamble) - French…
Le Peuple camerounais,
Proclame que l’être humain, sans distinction de race, de religion, de sexe, de croyance, possède des droits inaliénables et sacrés;
Affirme son attachement aux libertés fondamentales inscrites dans la déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme, la charte des Nations-Unies, la Charte africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples et toutes les conventions internationales y relatives et dûment ratifiées, notamment aux principes suivants:
(1) Tous les hommes sont égaux en droits et en devoirs. L’Etat assure à tous les citoyens les conditions nécessaires à leur développement;
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(25) L’Etat garantit à tous les citoyens de l’un et de l’autre sexes, les droits et libertés énumérés au Préambule de la Constitution. (Préambule)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWe, the Togolese people, …
* we affirm our determination to cooperate in peace, amity and solidarity with all people of the world enamored of [épris] the democratic ideal, on the basis of the principles of equality, of mutual respect and of sovereignty, ... (Preamble) - FrenchNous, Peuple togolais, …
Affirmons notre détermination à coopérer dans la paix, l'amitié et la solidarité avec tous les peuples du monde épris de l'idéal démocratique, sur la base des principes d'égalité, de respect mutuel de la souveraineté ; … (Préambule)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishThe public powers see to the elimination of any form of discrimination concerning women and assure the protection and the promotion of their rights.
… (Art. 14) - FrenchLes pouvoirs publics veillent à l’élimination de toute forme de discrimination à l’égard de la femme et assurent la protection et la promotion de ses droits.
… (Art. 14)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWe the people of Zimbabwe, …
United in our diversity by our common desire for freedom, justice and equality, and our heroic resistance to colonialism, racism and all forms of domination and oppression,
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Cherishing freedom, equality, peace, justice, tolerance, prosperity and patriotism in search of new frontiers under a common destiny,
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Resolve by the tenets of this Constitution to commit ourselves to build a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honesty and the dignity of hard work,
… (Preamble)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) The fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual enshrined in this Chapter3 are hereby declared and guaranteed, namely –
(a) … equality before the law and equal protection of the law;
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(3) A person of whatever gender, race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, religion, creed, age or disability shall be entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual contained in this Chapter but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest. (Sec. 14)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) All persons shall be equal before the law.
(2) A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.
(3) For the purposes of this article, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, gender, occupation, religion or creed, whereby persons of one description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another description are not made subject or are granted privileges or advantages which are not granted to persons of another description.
(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are reasonably necessary to provide—
(a) for the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational imbalance in the Ghanaian society;
(b) for matters relating to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
(c) for the imposition of restrictions on the acquisition of land by persons who are not citizens of Ghana or on the political and economic activities of such persons and for other matters relating to such persons; or
(d) for making different provision for different communities having regard to their special circumstances not being provision which is inconsistent with the spirit of this Constitution.
(5) Nothing shall be taken to be inconsistent with this article which is allowed to be done under any provision of this Chapter. (Art. 17)