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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 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-
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(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
All citizens shall have equal social dignity and shall be equal before the law, without distinction of gender, race, language, religion, political opinion, personal and social conditions.
It shall be the duty of the Republic to remove those obstacles of an economic or social nature which constrain the freedom and equality of citizens, thereby impeding the full development of the human person and the effective participation of all workers in the political, economic and social organisation of the country. (Art. 3) - Italian
Tutti i cittadini hanno pari dignità sociale e sono eguali davanti alla legge, senza distinzione di sesso, di razza, di lingua, di religione, di opinioni politiche, di condizioni personali e sociali.
È compito della Repubblica rimuovere gli ostacoli di ordine economico e sociale, che, limitando di fatto la libertà e l'eguaglianza dei cittadini, impediscono il pieno sviluppo della persona umana e l'effettiva partecipazione di tutti i lavoratori all'organizzazione politica, economica e sociale del Paese. (Art. 3)
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
- English…
Accusations of being infidels, and terrorism did not stop us from marching forward to build a nation of law. Sectarianism and racism have not stopped us from marching together to strengthen our national unity, following the path of peaceful transfer of power, adopting the course of just distribution of resources, and providing equal opportunity for all. We, the people of Iraq, who have just risen from our stumble, and who are looking with confidence to the future through a republican, federal, democratic, pluralistic system, have resolved with the determination of our men, women, elderly, and youth to respect the rule of law, to establish justice and equality, to cast aside the politics of aggression, to pay attention to women and their rights, the elderly and their concerns, and children and their affairs, to spread the culture of diversity, and to defuse terrorism.
… (Preamble) - Arabic…
لم يثننا التكفيرُ والارهابُ من أن نمضي قُدماً لبناء دولة القانون، ولم توقفنا الطائفية والعنصرية من ان نسير معاً لتعزيز الوحدة الوطنية، وانتهاج سُبُلِ التداول السلمي للسلطة، وتبني اسلوب التوزيع العادل للثروة، ومنح تكافؤ الفرص للجميع نحنُ شعبُ العراقِ الناهض توّاً من كبوته، والمتطلع بثقة إلى مستقبله من خلال نظامٍ جمهوري اتحادي ديمقراطي تعددي، عَقَدَنا العزم برجالنا ونسائنا، وشيوخنا وشبابنا، على احترام قواعد القانون وتحقيق العدل والمساواة، ونبذ سياسة العدوان، والاهتمام بالمرأةِ وحقوقها، والشيخ وهمومه، والطفل وشؤونه، واشاعة ثقافة التنوع، ونزع فتيل الارهاب
(الديباجة) …
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)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
The citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia … responsible to future generations to preserve and develop everything that is valuable from the rich cultural inheritance and coexistence within North Macedonia, equal in rights and obligations towards the common good - the Republic of North Macedonia, … (Preamble)4
- Macedonian
Граѓаните на Република Северна Македонија ... одговорни пред идните генерации за зачувување и развој на сe што е вредно од богатото културно наследство и соживот во Северна Македонија, еднакви во своите права и обврски кон заедничкото добро - Република Северна Македонија - … (Preamble)
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
1. The Kyrgyz Republic shall ensure that all persons within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction enjoy protection of their rights and freedoms.
No one shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, language, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, political or other opinion, education, origin, property or other status, or other circumstances.
Persons who have discriminated shall be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Special measures established by law and aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for different social groups in accordance with international obligations do not constitute discrimination.
2. In the Kyrgyz Republic, everyone is equal before the law and the courts.
3. In the Kyrgyz Republic, men and women have equal rights and freedoms and equal opportunities to exercise them. (Art. 24) - Russian
1. Кыргызская Республика обеспечивает всем лицам, находящимся в пределах ее территории и под ее юрисдикцией, защиту их прав и свобод.
Никто не может подвергаться дискриминации по признаку пола, расы, языка, инвалидности, этнической принадлежности, вероисповедания, возраста, политических или иных убеждений, образования, происхождения, имущественного или иного положения, а также других обстоятельств.
Лица, допустившие дискриминацию, несут ответственность в соответствии с законом.
Не являются дискриминацией специальные меры, установленные законом и направленные на обеспечение равных возможностей для различных социальных групп в соответствии с международными обязательствами.
2. В Кыргызской Республике все равны перед законом и судом.
3. В Кыргызской Республике мужчины и женщины имеют равные права и свободы и равные возможности для их реализации. (Статья 24) - Kyrgyz
1. Кыргыз Республикасы өз аймагынын чегинде жана өзүнүн юрисдикциясында турган бардык адамдардын укуктарын жана эркиндиктерин камсыз кылат.
Эч ким жынысы, расасы, тили, майыптуулугу, этностук таандыктыгы, туткан дини, курагы, саясий же башка ынанымдары, билими, теги, мүлктүк же башка абалы, ошондой эле башка жагдайлары боюнча басмырланышы мүмкүн эмес.
Басмырлоого жол берген адамдар мыйзамга ылайык жоопкерчилик тартат.
Эл аралык милдеттенмелерге ылайык ар кандай социалдык топтор үчүн бирдей мүмкүнчүлүктөрдү камсыз кылууга багытталган жана мыйзамда белгиленген атайын чаралар басмырлоо болуп саналбайт.
2. Кыргыз Республикасында мыйзам жана сот алдында бардыгы бирдей.
3. Кыргыз Республикасында эркектер жана аялдар бирдей укуктарга жана эркиндиктерге, аларды ишке ашыруу үчүн бирдей мүмкүнчүлүктөргө ээ. (24-берене)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
All persons are equal before the law and have right to equal protection. There will be no discrimination for reasons of birth, nationality, political belief, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, origin, economic position or social condition.
... (Art. 27) - Spanish
Todas las personas son iguales ante la ley y tienen derecho a igual protección. No habrá discriminación por motivos de nacimiento, nacionalidad, credo político, raza, sexo, idioma, religión, opinión, origen, posición económica o condición social.
... (Art. 27)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishThe State shall guarantee the equality of women and men and develop equal opportunities policy. (Art. 15)
- Serbian CyrillicДржава јемчи равноправност жена и мушкараца и развија политику једнаких могућности. (Члан 15)