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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.
National Human Rights Bodies
- English
(1) The national commissions, specialised organs and national councils entrusted with the responsibility to help in resolving important issues facing the country are the following:
(a) national commissions:
(i) National Commission for Human Rights;
…
(b) specialised organs:
(i) Office of the Ombudsman;
…
(2) Specific laws determine the mission, organisation and functioning of these organs.
… (Art. 140) - Kinyarwanda
Komisiyo z’Igihugu, Inzego Zihariye n’Inama z’Igihugu zishinzwe gufasha gukemura ibibazo bikomeye by’Igihugu ni izi zikurikira:
(a) Komisiyo z’Igihugu:
(i) Komisiyo y’Igihugu y’Uburenganzira bwa Muntu;
…
(b) inzego zihariye:
(i) Urwego rw’Umuvunyi;
…
(2) Amategeko yihariye ateganya inshingano, imitunganyirize n’imikorere by’izo nzego.
… (Ingingo ya 140) - French
Les commissions nationales, les organes spécialisés et les conseils nationaux chargés de contribuer à la résolution des problèmes majeurs du pays sont les suivants:
(a) les commissions nationales:
(i) la Commission nationale des Droits de la Personne;
…
(b) les organes spécialisés:
(i) l’Office de l’Ombudsman;
…
(2) Les lois spécifiques déterminent la mission, l’organisation et le fonctionnement de ces organes.
… (Art. 140)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English(1) The functions of the Ombudsman shall be to:-
(a) enquire into the conduct of any person to whom this section applies in the exercise of his office or authority, or abuse thereof;
(b) assist in the improvement of the practices and procedures of public bodies; and
(c) ensure the elimination of arbitrary and unfair decisions.
(2) Parliament may confer additional functions on the Ombudsman.
(3) This section applies to members of the public service, the Police Force, the Prisons Service, the government of Honiara city, provincial governments, and such other offices, commissions, corporate bodies or public agencies as may be prescribed by Parliament:
Provided that it shall not apply to the Governor-General or his personal staff or to the Director of Public Prosecutions or any person acting in accordance with his instructions.
(4) Nothing in this section or in any Act of Parliament enacted for the purposes of this Chapter shall confer on the Ombudsman any power to question or review any decision of any judge, magistrate or registrar in the exercise of his judicial functions. (Sec. 97)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English(1) There shall be established within a year of the first meeting of Parliament after the commencement of this Constitution, a Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration in this Chapter7 referred to as “the Commission”.
…
(3) The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the King on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.
… (Sec. 163)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishI. The Public Defender (Defensor del Pueblo) shall oversee the enforcement, promotion, dissemination of and compliance with human rights, both individual and collective, that are established in the Constitution, laws and international instruments. The function of the Public Defender shall extend to the administrative activity of the entire public sector and the activity of private institutions that provide public services.
II. The Public Defender shall also promote the defense of the rights of the nations and rural native indigenous peoples, of urban and intercultural communities, and of Bolivians who are abroad.
III. The Public Defender is an institution with operational, financial and administrative autonomy, in accordance with the law. Its functions shall be governed by the principles of free services, accessibility, swiftness and solidarity. In the exercise of its functions it does not receive instructions from the organs of the State. (Art. 218) - SpanishI. La Defensoría del Pueblo velará por la vigencia, promoción, difusión y cumplimiento de los derechos humanos, individuales y colectivos, que se establecen en la Constitución, las leyes y los instrumentos internacionales. La función de la Defensoría alcanzará a la actividad administrativa de todo el sector público y a la actividad de las instituciones privadas que presten servicios públicos.
II. Corresponderá asimismo a la Defensoría del Pueblo la promoción de la defensa de los derechos de las naciones y pueblos indígena originario campesinos, de las comunidades urbanas e interculturales, y de las bolivianas y los bolivianos en el exterior.
III. La Defensoría del Pueblo es una institución con autonomía funcional, financiera y administrativa, en el marco de la ley. Sus funciones se regirán bajo los principios de gratuidad, accesibilidad, celeridad y solidaridad. En el ejercicio de sus funciones no recibe instrucciones de los órganos del Estado. (Art. 218)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe National Council of the Rights of Man [Conseil nationale des droits de l'Homme] is a pluralist and independent national institution, charged with taking cognizance of all the questions relative to the defense and to the protection of the Rights of Man and of the freedoms, to the guarantee their full exercise and their promotion, as well as the preservation of the dignity, of the individual and collective rights and freedoms of the citizens, and this, with strict respect for the national and universal referents [referentiels] in the matter. (Art. 161)
- Arabicالمجلس الوطني لحقوق الإنسان مؤسسة وطنية تعددية ومستقلة، تتولى النظر في جميع القضايا المتعلقة بالدفاع عن حقوق الإنسان والحريات وحمايتها، وبضمان ممارستها الكاملة، والنهوض بها وبصيانة كرامة وحقوق وحريات المواطنات والمواطنين، أفرادا وجماعات، وذلك في نطاق الحرص التام على احترام المرجعيات الوطنية والكونية في هذا المجال. (الفصل 161)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishA National Commission of the Rights of Man is instituted. (Art. 214)
- FrenchIl est institué une Commission nationale des droits de l’homme. (Art. 214)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe Commission shall perform the following functions –
a. monitor the state of human rights throughout Lesotho;
b. monitor the human rights situation of detainees;
c. investigate violations of human rights and, if necessary, be responsible for instituting proceedings against such violation in the courts of law;
d. sensitise the public on its work, the nature and meaning of human rights;
e. develop and deliver education and training programmes as necessary to the general public;
f. submit opinions, recommendations, propositions and reports to public institutions on human rights issues, using the media and other means;
g. advocate for ratification, and recommend the domestication of international and regional human rights instruments;
h. promote and monitor the harmonisation of national laws and practices with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Lesotho;
i. develop and maintain working relations with organisations and representatives of civil society in Lesotho;
j. work in cooperation with the United Nations, regional mechanisms, national human rights institutions of other countries, in the areas of the promotion and protection of human rights, and
k. undertake any other activities or responsibilities that are consistent with the spirit of the promotion and protection of human rights. (Sec. 133F)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English1. There shall be a Banaba Island Council.
2. The powers and duties of the Banaba Island Council shall be prescribed by or under law. (Sec. 121)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English
(1) The primary functions of the Commission are—
(a) to advocate and promote respect for, and an understanding and appreciation of, human rights in New Zealand society; and
(b) to encourage the maintenance and development of harmonious relations between individuals and among the diverse groups in New Zealand society; and
(c) to promote racial equality and cultural diversity; and
(d) to promote equal employment opportunities (including pay equity); and
(e) to promote and protect the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities.
(2) The Commission has, in order to carry out its primary functions under subsection (1), the following functions:
(a) to be an advocate for human rights and to promote and protect, by education and publicity, respect for, and observance of, human rights:
(b) to encourage and co-ordinate programmes and activities in the field of human rights:
(c) to make public statements in relation to any matter that may affect or infringe human rights (whether or not those human rights are affirmed in New Zealand domestic human rights law or international human rights law), including statements commenting on the position of the Government in relation to that matter:
(ca) to make public statements promoting an understanding of, and compliance with, this Act or the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (for example, statements promoting understanding of measures to ensure equality, of indirect discrimination, or of institutions and procedures under this Act for dealing with complaints of unlawful discrimination):
(d) to promote by research, education, and discussion a better understanding of the human rights dimensions of the Treaty of Waitangi and their relationship with domestic and international human rights law:
(e) to prepare and publish, as the Commission considers appropriate, guidelines and voluntary codes of practice for the avoidance of acts or practices that may be inconsistent with, or contrary to, this Act:
(f) to receive and invite representations from members of the public on any matter affecting human rights:
(g) to consult and co-operate with other persons and bodies concerned with the protection of human rights:
(h) to inquire generally into any matter, including any enactment or law, or any practice, or any procedure, whether governmental or non-governmental, if it appears to the Commission that the matter involves, or may involve, the infringement of human rights:
(i) to appear in or bring proceedings, in accordance with section 6 or section 92B or section 92E or section 92H or section 97:
(j) to apply to a court or tribunal, under rules of court or regulations specifying the tribunal’s procedure, to be appointed as intervener or as counsel assisting the court or tribunal, or to take part in proceedings before the court or tribunal in another way permitted by those rules or regulations, if, in the Commission’s opinion, taking part in the proceedings in that way will facilitate the performance of its functions stated in paragraph (a):
(k) to report to the Prime Minister on—
(i) any matter affecting human rights, including the desirability of legislative, administrative, or other action to give better protection to human rights and to ensure better compliance with standards laid down in international instruments on human rights:
(ii) the desirability of New Zealand becoming bound by any international instrument on human rights:
(iii) [Repealed]
(ka) to report to either or both of the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible on any existing or proposed legislation (including subordinate legislation), administrative provision, or policy of the Government that the Commission considers may affect human rights:
(kb) to promote the development of new international instruments on human rights:
(kc) to promote and monitor compliance by New Zealand with, and the reporting by New Zealand on, the implementation of international instruments on human rights ratified by New Zealand:
(l) to make public statements in relation to any group of persons in, or who may be coming to, New Zealand who are or may be subject to hostility, or who have been or may be brought into contempt, on the basis that that group consists of persons against whom discrimination is unlawful under this Act:
(m) to develop a national plan of action, in consultation with interested parties, for the promotion and protection of human rights in New Zealand:
(n) to exercise the following functions in relation to equal employment opportunities:
(i) to evaluate, through the use of benchmarks developed by the Commission, the roles that legislation, guidelines, and voluntary codes of practice play in facilitating and promoting best practice in equal employment opportunities:
(ii) to lead the development of guidelines and voluntary codes of practice to facilitate and promote best practice in equal employment opportunities (including codes that identify related rights and obligations in legislation) in accordance with paragraph (e):
(iii) to monitor and analyse progress in improving equal employment opportunities in New Zealand and to report to the Minister on the results of that monitoring and analysis:
(iv) to liaise with, and complement the work of, any trust or body that has as one of its purposes the promotion of equal employment opportunities:
(o) to exercise or perform any other functions, powers, and duties conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.
(3) The Commission may, in the public interest or in the interests of a person, department, or organisation, publish reports relating generally to the exercise of its functions under this Act or to a particular inquiry by it under this Act, whether or not the matters to be dealt with in a report of that kind have been the subject of a report to the Minister or the Prime Minister. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 5)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe following are functions of the Office of Public Prosecutions:
1. In judicial proceedings, to guarantee respect for constitutional rights and guarantees, as well as those deriving from international treaties, agreements and conventions signed by the Republic.
… (Art. 285) - SpanishSon atribuciones del Ministerio Público:
1. Garantizar en los procesos judiciales el respeto de los derechos y garantías constitucionales, así como de los tratados, convenios y acuerdos internacionales suscritos por la República.
… (Art. 285)