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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.
ABOUT 1367 RESULTS
National Human Rights Bodies
Romania
- English(1) The Advocate of the People shall be appointed for a term of office of 5 years, in order to defend the natural persons' rights and freedoms. The Advocate of the People's deputies shall be specialized per fields of activity.
(2) The Advocate of the People and his/her deputies shall not perform any other public or private office, except for teaching positions in higher education.
(3) The organization and functioning of the Advocate of the People institution shall be regulated by an organic law. (Art. 58) - Romanian(1) Avocatul Poporului este numit pe o durată de 5 ani pentru apărarea drepturilor şi libertăţilor persoanelor fizice. Adjuncţii Avocatului Poporului sunt specializaţi pe domenii de activitate.
(2) Avocatul Poporului şi adjuncţii săi nu pot îndeplini nici o altă funcţie publică sau privată, cu excepţia funcţiilor didactice din învăţământul superior.
(3) Organizarea şi funcţionarea instituţiei Avocatul Poporului se stabilesc prin lege organică. (Art. 58)
National Human Rights Bodies
Guyana
- English(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (6), every person, as contemplated by the respective international treaties set out in the Fourth Schedule to which Guyana has acceded is entitled to the human rights enshrined in the said international treaties, and such rights shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature judiciary and all organs and agencies of Government and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons and shall be enforceable in the manner hereinafter prescribed.
…
(4) If any person alleges that any of the rights referred to in paragraph (1), has been, is being or is about to be contravened in relation to him or her, then, without prejudice to any other action with respect to the same matter which is lawfully available, that person may apply to the Human Rights Commission in such manner as the Commission may prescribe, for redress.
… (Art. 154A)
National Human Rights Bodies
Solomon Islands
- English(1) There shall be an Ombudsman, whose office shall be a public office.
(2) The Ombudsman shall be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of a committee consisting of the Speaker, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
… (Sec. 96)
National Human Rights Bodies
France
- EnglishThe Defender of Rights shall ensure the due respect of rights and freedoms by state administrations, territorial communities, public legal entities, as well as by all bodies carrying out a public service mission or by those that the Institutional Act decides fall within his remit.
Referral may be made to the Defender of Rights, in the manner determined by an Institutional Act, by every person who considers his rights to have been infringed by the operation of a public service or of a body mentioned in the first paragraph. He may act without referral.
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The Defender of Rights shall be appointed by the President of the Republic for a six-year, non-renewable term,
… (1958 Constitution, Art. 71-1) - FrenchLe Défenseur des droits veille au respect des droits et libertés par les administrations de l'État, les collectivités territoriales, les établissements publics, ainsi que par tout organisme investi d'une mission de service public, ou à l'égard duquel la loi organique lui attribue des compétences.
Il peut être saisi, dans les conditions prévues par la loi organique, par toute personne s'estimant lésée par le fonctionnement d'un service public ou d'un organisme visé au premier alinéa. Il peut se saisir d'office.
…
Le Défenseur des droits est nommé par le Président de la République pour un mandat de six ans non renouvelable,
… (Constitution 1958, Art. 71-1)
National Human Rights Bodies
Ghana
- EnglishThe functions of the Commission shall be defined and prescribed by Act of Parliament and shall include the duty—
(a) to investigate complaints of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, injustice, corruption, abuse of power and unfair treatment of any person by a public officer in the exercise of his official duties;
(b) to investigate complaints concerning the functioning of the Public Services Commission, the administrative organs of the State, the Armed Forces, the Police Service and the Prisons Service in so far as complaints relate to the failure to achieve a balanced structuring of those services or equal access by all to the recruitment of those services or fair administration in relation to those services;
(c) to investigate complaints concerning practices and actions by persons, private enterprises and other institutions where those complaints allege violations of fundamental rights and freedoms under this Constitution;
(d) to take appropriate action to call for the remedying, correction and reversal of instances specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this clause through such means as are fair, proper and effective,
…
(f) to educate the public as to human rights and freedoms by such means as the Commissioner may decide, including publications, lectures and symposia; and
(g) to report annually to Parliament on the performance of its functions. (Art. 218)
National Human Rights Bodies
Mexico
- English…
B. The Congress of the Union and the legislatures of the federative entities within the domain [ámbito] of their respective competencies, will establish organs of protection of the human rights that the Mexican juridical order protects [ampara], those that will take cognizance of complaints [quejas] against the acts or omissions of a nature of administrative provenance of any public authority or servant, with the exception of those of the Judicial Power of the Federation, that violate those rights.
The organs [organismos] to which the previous paragraph refers, shall formulate public recommendations, non-binding, [and] denouncements and complaints [quejas] before the respective authorities. Any public servant is obligated to respond to the recommendations that these organs [organismos] present. When the enacted recommendations are not accepted[,] or complied with[,] by the public authorities or servants, they must substantiate, motivate and make public their refusal [negativa]; additionally, the Chamber of Senators or in its recesses the Permanent Commission, or the legislatures of the federative entities, as it corresponds, may summon [llamar], at the request of these organs [organismos], the public authorities or servants responsible to appear before these legislative organs, to the effect of explaining the motive for the refusal.
These organs [organismos] will not be competent concerning electoral and jurisdictional matters.
The organs [organismo] that the Congress of the Union establishes will be denominated the Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos [National Commission of Human Rights]; it will have autonomy of management and budgetary [autonomy], juridical personality and its own patrimony.
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The National Commission of Human Rights will have a Consultative Commission composed of twelve councilors that will be elected by the vote of the two-thirds part of the members present of the Chamber of Senators or, in its recesses, by the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union, with the same qualified vote.
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The National Commission of Human Rights shall take cognizance of the non-conformities that are presented to it concerning the recommendations, agreements or omission of the equivalent organs [organismos] in the federative entities.
The National Commission of Human Rights may investigate acts that constitute grave violations of human rights, when it so judges [as] appropriate or [when] the Federal Executive, either of the Chambers of the Congress of the Union, the titular [members] of the executive powers of the federative entities or the Legislatures of these require it. (Art. 102) - Spanish…
B. El Congreso de la Unión y las legislaturas de las entidades federativas, en el ámbito de sus respectivas competencias, establecerán organismos de protección de los derechos humanos que ampara el orden jurídico mexicano, los que conocerán de quejas en contra de actos u omisiones de naturaleza administrativa provenientes de cualquier autoridad o servidor público, con excepción de los del Poder Judicial de la Federación, que violen estos derechos.
Los organismos a que se refiere el párrafo anterior, formularán recomendaciones públicas, no vinculatorias, denuncias y quejas ante las autoridades respectivas. Todo servidor público está obligado a responder las recomendaciones que les presenten estos organismos. Cuando las recomendaciones emitidas no sean aceptadas o cumplidas por las autoridades o servidores públicos, éstos deberán fundar, motivar y hacer pública su negativa; además, la Cámara de Senadores o en sus recesos la Comisión Permanente, o las legislaturas de las entidades federativas, según corresponda, podrán llamar, a solicitud de estos organismos, a las autoridades o servidores públicos responsables para que comparezcan ante dichos órganos legislativos, a efecto de que expliquen el motivo de su negativa.
Estos organismos no serán competentes tratándose de asuntos electorales y jurisdiccionales.
El organismo que establezca el Congreso de la Unión se denominará Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos; contará con autonomía de gestión y presupuestaria, personalidad jurídica y patrimonio propios.
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La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos tendrá un Consejo Consultivo integrado por diez consejeros que serán elegidos por el voto de las dos terceras partes de los miembros presentes de la Cámara de Senadores o, en sus recesos, por la Comisión Permanente del Congreso de la Unión, con la misma votación calificada.
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La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos conocerá de las inconformidades que se presenten en relación con las recomendaciones, acuerdos u omisiones de los organismos equivalentes en las entidades federativas.
La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos podrá investigar hechos que constituyan violaciones graves de derechos humanos, cuando así lo juzgue conveniente o lo pidiere el Ejecutivo Federal, alguna de las Cámaras del Congreso de la Unión, los titulares de los poderes ejecutivos de las entidades federativas o las Legislaturas de éstas. (Art. 102)
National Human Rights Bodies
Colombia
- EnglishThe Defender of the People will see to the promotion, the exercise, and the diffusion of human rights, for which he will exercise the following functions:
1. Orientating and instructing the inhabitants of the national territory and the Colombians abroad in the exercise and defense of their rights before the competent authorities or entities of a private character.
2. Disseminating the human rights and recommending the policies for teaching them.
3. Invoking the right of Habeas Corpus and interposing actions of protection [tutela], without prejudice to the right which corresponds [asiste] to interested [persons].
4. Organizing and directing the public defense in the terms that the law specifies.
5. Interposing popular actions in matters related to his competence.
6. Presenting Bills of law on matters relating to his competence.
7. Rendering reports to the Congress on the fulfillment of his functions.
8. The others that the law determines. (Art. 282) - SpanishEl Defensor del Pueblo velará por la promoción, el ejercicio y la divulgación de los derechos humanos, para lo cual ejercerá las siguientes funciones:
1. Orientar e instruir a los habitantes del territorio nacional y a los colombianos en el exterior en el ejercicio y defensa de sus derechos ante las autoridades competentes o entidades de carácter privado.
2. Divulgar los derechos humanos y recomendar las políticas para su enseñanza.
3. Invocar el derecho de Habeas Corpus e interponer las acciones de tutela, sin perjuicio del derecho que asiste a los interesados.
4. Organizar y dirigir la defensoría pública en los términos que señale la ley.
5. Interponer acciones populares en asuntos relacionados con su competencia.
6. Presentar proyectos de ley sobre materias relativas a su competencia.
7. Rendir informes al Congreso sobre el cumplimiento de sus funciones.
8. Las demás que determine la ley. (Art. 282)
National Human Rights Bodies
Paraguay
- English[The following] are duties and attributions of the Defender of the People:
1. to receive and to investigate denunciations, complaints and claims against violations of the human rights and other acts that this Constitution and the law establish;
2. to request from the authorities at their various levels, including those of the police organs and those of security in general, information for the better exercise of his functions[;] he may not be opposed by any reserve. He may have access to the places where the commission of such acts are denounced. It is also of his competence to act ex officio;
3. to issue [emitir] [a] public censure for acts or behaviors contrary to the human rights;
4. to annually report concerning his management [gestiones] to the Chambers of the Congress;
5. to prepare and to divulge reports on the situation of human rights that, in his opinion, require prompt public attention, and
6. the other duties and attributions that the law establishes. (Art. 279) - SpanishSon deberes y atribuciones del Defensor del Pueblo:
1. recibir e investigar denuncias, quejas y reclamos contra violaciones de los derechos humanos y otros hechos que establecen esta Constitución y la ley.
2. requerir de las autoridades en sus diversos niveles, incluyendo los de los órganos policiales y los de seguridad en general, información para el mejor ejercicio de sus funciones, sin que pueda oponérsele reserva alguna. Podrá acceder a los sitios donde se denuncie la comisión de tales hechos. Es también de su competencia actuar de oficio;
3. emitir censura pública por actos o comportamientos contrarios a los derechos humanos;
4. informar anualmente de sus gestiones a las Cámaras del Congreso;
5. elaborar y divulgar informes sobre la situación de los derechos humanos que, a su juicio, requieran pronta atención pública, y
6. los demás deberes y atribuciones que fije la ley. (Art. 279)
National Human Rights Bodies
Seychelles
- English(1) There shall be an Ombudsman who shall be appointed by the President from candidates proposed by the constitutional Appointments Authority.
… (Art. 143)
National Human Rights Bodies
Equatorial Guinea
- EnglishAny physical or juridical person that, regarding [ante] an matter that concerns them, considers that a public organ [organismo] has not functioned or acted in accordance with the mission of public service that is assigned to it, can interpose [the] recourse of amparo before [ante] the Defender of the People. (Art. 125)
- SpanishToda persona física o jurídica que, ante un asunto que le concierne, considere que un organismo público no ha funcionado o actuado conforme a la misión de servicio público que le es asignado, puede interponer recurso de amparo ante el Defensor del Pueblo. (Art. 125)
- FrenchToute personne physique ou morale qui, dans un cas qui la concerne, estime qu'un organisme public n'a pas fonctionné ou agi conformément à la mission de service public qui lui a été assignée, peut introduire un recours en protection de ses droits devant le Défenseur du peuple. (Art. 125)