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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
- 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.
(2) Subject to subsections (6), (7), (8) and (9), a person shall not be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(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
…
(c) for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) (or of persons connected with such persons) of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law of persons of that description; or
(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.
(5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to race, place of origin, birth out of wedlock, political opinions or affiliations, colour, creed or sex) to be required of any person who is appointed to or to act in any office under the Crown, any office in the service of a local government authority or any office in a body corporate established by law for public purposes.
(6) Subsection (2) shall not apply to anything that is expressly or by necessary implication authorised to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (4) or (5).
(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) or (2) to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14, being such a restriction as is authorised by section 9(2), 11(5), 12(2) or 13(2) or, as the case may be, paragraph (a), (b), or (h) of section 14(3).
(8) Nothing in subsection (2) shall affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under any law.
(9) Nothing in subsection (2) shall apply in relation to the exercise of any function vested in any person or authority by any of the provisions of this Constitution except sections 78(1), 79(2), 80(1), 81(1), 82(1), 83 and 85 (which relate to the appointment etc. of public officers). (Sec. 15)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishThe Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is irrevocably free and independent, basing its moral property and values of freedom, equality, justice and international peace on the doctrine of Simon Bolivar, the Liberator. … (Art. 1)
- SpanishLa República Bolivariana de Venezuela es irrevocablemente libre e independiente y fundamenta su patrimonio moral y sus valores de libertad, igualdad, justicia y paz internacional, en la doctrina de Simón Bolívar, el Libertador. … (Art. 1)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishThe following are essential purposes and functions of the State, in addition to those established in the Constitution and the law:
1. To construct a just and harmonious society, built on decolonization, without discrimination or exploitation, with full social justice, in order to strengthen the Pluri-National identities.
2. To guarantee the welfare, development, security and protection, and equal dignity of individuals, nations, peoples, and communities, and to promote mutual respect and intra-cultural, inter-cultural and plural language dialogue.
… (Art. 9) - SpanishSon fines y funciones esenciales del Estado, además de los que establece la Constitución y la ley:
1. Constituir una sociedad justa y armoniosa, cimentada en la descolonización, sin discriminación ni explotación, con plena justicia social, para consolidar las identidades plurinacionales.
2. Garantizar el bienestar, el desarrollo, la seguridad y la protección e igual dignidad de las personas, las naciones, los pueblos y las comunidades, y fomentar el respeto mutuo y el diálogo intracultural, intercultural y plurilingüe.
... (Art. 9)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWhereas every person in Dominica is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms, that is to say, the rights whatever his race, place of origins, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely-
(a) … the protection of the law;
… (Sec. 1)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWe, the representatives of the people of Guatemala, … recognizing the family as the primary and fundamental genesis of the spiritual and moral values of the society and the State, as [the one] responsible for promoting the common good, of the consolidation of the regime of legality, security, justice, equality, freedom and peace;
… (Preamble) - SpanishNosotros, los representantes del pueblo de Guatemala, … reconociendo a la familia como génesis primario y fundamental de los valores espirituales y morales de la sociedad y, al Estado, como responsable de la promoción del bien común, de la consolidación del régimen de legalidad, seguridad, justicia, igualdad, libertad y paz;
… (Preámbulo)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
Nicaragua is an independent, free, sovereign, unitary and indivisible State. It constitutes itself in a Democratic and Social State of Law, that promotes as superior values the dignity [dignificación] of the People through its juridical order [ordenamiento jurídico], liberty, justice, equality, solidarity, social responsibility and, in general, the preeminence of the Human Rights, ethics and the common good. … (Art. 6)
- Spanish
Nicaragua es un Estado independiente, libre, soberano, unitario e indivisible. Se constituye en un Estado Democrático y Social de Derecho, que promueve como valores superiores la dignificación del pueblo a través de su ordenamiento jurídico, la libertad, la justicia, la igualdad, la solidaridad, la responsabilidad social y, en general, la preeminencia de los Derechos Humanos, la ética y el bien común. … (Art. 6)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWhere every person in Saint Vincent is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, color, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely-
a. life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
… (Sec. 1)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishCongress is empowered:
…
23.- To legislate and promote positive measures guaranteeing true equal opportunities and treatment, the full benefit and exercise of the rights recognized by this Constitution and by the international treaties on human rights in force, particularly referring to children, women, the aged, and disabled persons.
… (Sec. 75) - SpanishCorresponde al Congreso:
…
23. Legislar y promover medidas de acción positiva que garanticen la igualdad real de oportunidades y de trato, y el pleno goce y ejercicio de los derechos reconocidos por esta Constitución y por los tratados internacionales vigentes sobre derechos humanos, en particular respecto de los niños, las mujeres, los ancianos y las personas con discapacidad.
… (Art. 75)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
All persons are equal before the law, without any distinction whatsoever, Brazilians and foreigners residing in the country being ensured of inviolability of the right to life, to liberty, to equality, to security and to property, on the following terms:
I – men and women have equal rights and duties under the terms of this Constitution;
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XLI – the law shall punish any discrimination which may attempt against fundamental rights and liberties;
… (Art. 5) - Portuguese
Todos são iguais perante a lei, sem distinção de qualquer natureza, garantindo-se aos brasileiros e aos estrangeiros residentes no País a inviolabilidade do direito à vida, à liberdade, à igualdade, à segurança e à propriedade, nos termos seguintes:
I - homens e mulheres são iguais em direitos e obrigações, nos termos desta Constituição;
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XLI - a lei punirá qualquer discriminação atentatória dos direitos e liberdades fundamentais;
... (Art. 5)