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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… The completion of this Constitution is the culmination of the people’s struggle on the road to freedom and democracy. It is a real embodiment of achievements, a response to shifts and changes, an evidence of organizing the march of the state towards the future, a regulator of the movement of its institutions and a source of legislation. All of this is attainable through a system of fundamental principles that enshrines independence, sovereignty and the rule of the people based on election, political and party pluralism and the protection of national unity, cultural diversity, public freedoms, human rights, social justice, equality, equal opportunities, citizenship and the rule of law, where the society and the citizen are the objective and purpose for which every national effort is dedicated. Preserving the dignity of the society and the citizen is an indicator of the civilization of the country and the prestige of the state. (Preamble)
- Arabic... ويأتي إنجاز هذا الدستور تتويجاً لنضال الشعب على طريق الحرية والديمقراطية وتجسيداً حقيقياً للمكتسبات واستجابة للتحولات والمتغيرات، ودليلاً يُنظم مسيرة الدولة نحو المستقبل، وضابطاً لحركة مؤسساتها ومَصدراً لتشريعاتها، وذلك من خلال منظومة من المبادئ الأساسية تُكرس الاستقلال والسيادة وحكم الشعب القائم على الانتخاب والتعددية السياسية والحزبية وحماية الوحدة الوطنية والتنوع الثقافي والحريات العامة وحقوق الإنسان والعدالة الاجتماعية والمساواة وتكافؤ الفرص والمواطنة وسيادة القانون، يكون فيها المجتمع والمواطن هدفاً وغاية يُكرَّس من أجلهما كل جهد وطني، ويُعد الحفاظ على كرامتهما مؤشراً لحضارة الوطن وهيبة الدّولة. (المقدّمة)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. (Constitution Act 1982, Sec. 15) - French(1) La loi ne fait acception de personne et s’applique également à tous, et tous ont droit à la même protection et au même bénéfice de la loi, indépendamment de toute discrimination, notamment des discriminations fondées sur la race, l’origine nationale ou ethnique, la couleur, la religion, le sexe, l’âge ou les déficiences mentales ou physiques.
(2) Le paragraphe (1) n’a pas pour effet d’interdire les lois, programmes ou activités destinés à améliorer la situation d’individus ou de groupes défavorisés, notamment du fait de leur race, de leur origine nationale ou ethnique, de leur couleur, de leur religion, de leur sexe, de leur âge ou de leurs déficiences mentales ou physiques. (Loi constitutionnelle de 1982, Sec. 15)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishEvery person shall be equal under the law and shall be entitled to equal protection. The government shall take no action to discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, place of origin, language, religion or belief, social status or clan affiliation except for the preferential treatment of citizens, for the protection of minors, elderly, indigent, physically or mentally handicapped, and other similar groups, and in matters concerning intestate succession and domestic relations. No person shall be treated unfairly in legislative or executive investigation. (Art. IV, Sec. 5)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English1. Whereas every person in Lesotho is entitled, whatever his race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status to fundamental human rights and freedoms, that is to say, to each and all of the following—
…
n. freedom from discrimination;
o. the right to equality before the law and the equal protection of the law;
… (Sec. 4)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishAll persons are equal in law. There shall be no distinction among the citizens of the UAE on the basis of race, nationality, faith or social status. (Art. 25)
- Arabicجميع الأفراد لدى القانون سواء ولا تمييز بين مواطني الاتحاد بسبب الأصل أو المواطن أو العقيدة الدينية أو المركز الاجتماعي. (المادّة 25)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- 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.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subsections (6), (7) and (8) of this section, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person or authority.
(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 subject 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 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) of this section (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 which is the personal law of persons of that description;
(d) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned is subsection (3) of this section may be subject 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 contraventions subsection (1) of this section to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relation to sex, race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed) to be required of any person who is appointed to or to act in any office or employment.
(6) Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorised to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (4) or subsection (5) of this section.
(7) Nothing contained in or Done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of nay such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subject to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of this Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorised by section 7(2) section 9(5), section 10(2), section 11(2) or paragraph (a), (b), or (h) of section (12(3), as the case may be.
(8) Nothing in subsection (2) of this section 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 this Constitution or any other law. (Sec. 13)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
The citizens are equal before the law and have right to an equal protection of it, without any discrimination because of birth, of race, of gender, of opinion or of any other condition or personal or social circumstance being able to prevail. (Art. 37)
- Arabic
كل المواطنين سواسية أمام القانون، ولهم الحق في حماية متساوية. ولا يمكن أن يُتذرّع بأيّ تمييز يعود سببه إلى المولِد، أو العِرق، أو الجِنس، أو الرّأي، أو أيّ شرط أو ظرف آخر، شخصيّ أو اجتماعيّ. (المــادة 37)
- French
Les citoyens sont égaux devant la loi et ont droit à une égale protection de celle-ci, sans que puisse prévaloir aucune discrimination pour cause de naissance, de race, de sexe, d'opinion ou de toute autre condition ou circonstance personnelle ou sociale. (Art. 37)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English1. Women have the right to full and equal protection by the law, and have the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of their gender or marital status which includes the right—
a. to be accorded the same rights as men in civil law, including equal capacity—
i. to enter into contracts;
ii. to acquire and maintain rights in property, independently or in association with others, regardless of their marital status;
iii. to acquire and retain custody, guardianship and care of children and to have an equal right in the making of decisions that affect their upbringing; and
iv. to acquire and retain citizenship and nationality.
b. on the dissolution of marriage, howsoever entered into—
i. to a fair disposition of property that is held jointly with a husband; and
ii. to fair maintenance, taking into consideration all the circumstances and, in particular, the means of the former husband and the needs of any children.
2. Any law that discriminates against women on the basis of gender or marital status shall be invalid and legislation shall be passed to eliminate customs and practices that discriminate against women, particularly practices such as—
a. sexual abuse, harassment and violence;
b. discrimination in work, business and public affairs; and
c. deprivation of property, including property obtained by inheritance. (Sec. 24)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishThe law, federate law or rule referred to in Article 134 guarantees that women and men may equally exercise their rights and freedoms, … (Art. 11bis)
- DutchDe wet, het decreet of de in artikel 134 bedoelde regel waarborgen voor vrouwen en mannen de gelijke uitoefening van hun rechten en vrijheden, … (Art. 11bis)
- FrenchLa loi, le décret ou la règle visée à l’article 134 garantissent aux femmes et aux hommes l’égal exercice de leurs droits et libertés, ... (Art. 11bis)
- GermanDas Gesetz, das Dekret oder die in Artikel 134 erwähnte Regel gewährleistet Frauen und Männern die gleiche Ausübung ihrer Rechte und Freiheiten ... (Art. 11bis)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishIn Guatemala[,] all [of the] human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights. The man and the woman, whatever their civil status may be, have equal opportunities and responsibilities. … (Art. 4)
- SpanishEn Guatemala todos los seres humanos son libres e iguales en dignidad y derechos. El hombre y la mujer, cualquiera que sea su estado civil, tienen iguales oportunidades y responsabilidades. … (Art. 4)