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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
Namibia
- EnglishThe functions of the Ombudsman shall be defined and prescribed by an Act of Parliament and shall include the following:
(a) the duty to investigate complaints concerning alleged or apparent instances of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, abuse of power, unfair, harsh, insensitive or discourteous treatment of an inhabitant of Namibia by an official in the employ of any organ of Government (whether central or local), manifest injustice, or conduct by such official which would properly be regarded as unlawful, oppressive or unfair in a democratic society;
(b) the duty to investigate complaints concerning the functioning of the Public Service Commission, administrative organs of the State, the defence force, the police force and the correctional service in so far as such complaints relate to the failure to achieve a balanced structuring of such services or equal access by all to the recruitment of such services or fair administration in relation to such services;
…
(d) the duty to investigate complaints concerning practices and actions by persons, enterprises and other private institutions where such complaints allege that violations of fundamental rights and freedoms under this Constitution have taken place;
(e) the duty and power to take appropriate action to call for the remedying, correction and reversal of instances specified in the preceding Sub-Articles through such means as are fair, proper and effective, including:
(aa) negotiation and compromise between the parties concerned;
(bb) causing the complaint and his or her finding thereon to be reported to the superior of an offending person;
(cc) referring the matter to the Prosecutor-General;
(dd) bringing proceedings in a competent Court for an interdict or some other suitable remedy to secure the termination of the offending action or conduct, or the abandonment or alteration of the offending procedures;
(ee) bringing proceedings to interdict the enforcement of such legislation or regulation by challenging its validity if the offending action or conduct is sought to be justified by subordinate legislation or regulation which is grossly unreasonable or otherwise ultra vires;
(ff) reviewing such laws as were in operation before the date of Independence in order to ascertain whether they violate the letter or the spirit of this Constitution and to make consequential recommendations to the President, the Cabinet or the Attorney-General for appropriate action following thereupon;
… (Art. 91)
National Human Rights Bodies
Philippines
- EnglishThe Congress may provide for other cases of violations of human rights that should fall within the authority of the Commission, taking into account its recommendations. (Art. XIII, Sec. 19)
- FilipinoMaaaring magtadhana ang Kongreso para sa iba pang mga kaso ng paglabag sa mga karapatang pantao na dapat masaklaw ng awtoridad ng Komisyon, na nagsasaalang-alang sa mga rekomendasyon nito. (Art. XIII, Seksyon 19)
National Human Rights Bodies
Finland
- EnglishThe Parliament appoints for a term of four years a Parliamentary Ombudsman and two Deputy Ombudsmen, who shall have outstanding knowledge of law.
… (Sec. 38) - FinnishEduskunta valitsee neljän vuoden toimikaudeksi oikeusasiamiehen sekä kaksi apulaisoikeusasiamiestä, joiden tulee olla eteviä laintuntijoita.
… (38 §) - SwedishRiksdagen väljer för en mandattid på fyra år en justitieombudsman samt två biträdande justitieombudsmän, som skall ha utmärkta lagkunskaper.
… (38 §)
National Human Rights Bodies
Chad
- EnglishThe National Commission of the Rights of Man has for its mission:
- to formulate opinions for the Government on the questions relative to the Rights of Man and including the situation [condition] of women, the rights of the child and of the handicapped;
- to assist the Government and the other national and international institutions concerning all questions relative to the Rights of Man in Chad in conformity with the Charter of the Rights of Man and of the Fundamental Freedoms.
- to participate in the revision of the legislation in force and in the elaboration of new norms relative to the Rights of Man, with a view to the construction of [the] State of Law and to the reinforcement of democracy;
- to proceed with inquiries, studies [and] publications relative to the Rights of Man;
- to advise the Government concerning the ratification of international juridical instruments relative to torture [and] to inhuman and degrading treatment. (Art. 172) - Arabicتقضي مهمة اللجنة الوطنية لحقوق الإنسان:
- بالتقدم بآراء للحكومة في المسائل المتعلقة بحقوق الإنسان ووضع المرأة وحقوق الطفل وذوي الإعاقة؛
- مساعدة الحكومة والمؤسسات الوطنية والدولية الأخرى فيما يتعلق بكافة المسائل المتصلة بحقوق الإنسان في تشاد وفقاً لميثاق حقوق الإنسان والحريات الأساسية.
- المشاركة في تنقيح التشريعات السارية وفي صياغة معايير جديدة بشأن جل ما يتعلق بحقوق الإنسان من أجل بناء دولة القانون وتعزيز الديمقراطية؛
- إجراء تحقيقات ودراسات وإصدار منشورات في مجال حقوق الإنسان
- إسداء المشورة للحكومة في إطار التصديق على صكوك قانونية دولية تتعلق بالتعذيب والمعاملة غير الإنسانية والمهينة. (المادة 172) - FrenchLa Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme a pour mission de:
- formuler des avis au Gouvernement sur les questions relatives aux droits de l'Homme, y compris la condition de la femme, les droits de l'enfant et des handicapés;
- assister le Gouvernement et les autres institutions nationales et internationales pour toutes les questions relatives aux droits de l'Homme au Tchad en conformité avec la Charte des Droits de l'Homme et des Libertés Fondamentales;
- participer à la révision de la législation en vigueur et à l'élaboration de nouvelles normes relatives aux droits de l'Homme, en vue de la construction de l'Etat de droit et du renforcement de la démocratie;
- procéder à des enquêtes, études, publications relatives aux droits de l'Homme
- aviser le Gouvernement sur les ratifications des instruments juridiques internationaux relatifs à la torture, au traitement inhumain et dégradant. (Art. 172)
National Human Rights Bodies
Congo
- EnglishThe National Commission of the Rights of Man is a monitoring organ [organe de suivi] of the promotion and of the protection of the rights of man. (Art. 215)
- FrenchLa Commission nationale des droits de l’homme est un organe de suivi de la promotion et de la protection des droits de l’homme. (Art. 215)
National Human Rights Bodies
Lesotho
- 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
Serbia
- EnglishThe Civic Defender shall be independent state body who shall protect citizens' rights and monitor the work of public administration bodies, body in charge of legal protection of proprietary rights and interests of the Republic of Serbia, as well as other bodies and organizations, companies and institutions to which public powers have been delegated.
The Civic Defender shall not be authorized to monitor the work of the National Assembly, President of the Republic, Government, Constitutional Court, courts and Public Prosecutor's Offices.
The Civic Defender shall be elected and dismissed by the National Assembly, in accordance with the Constitution and Law.
… (Art. 138) - Serbian CyrillicЗаштитник грађана је независан државни орган који штити права грађана и контролише рад органа државне управе, органа надлежног за правну заштиту имовинских права и интереса Републике Србије, као и других органа и организација, предузећа и установа којима су поверена јавна овлашћења.
Заштитник грађана није овлашћен да контролише рад Народне скупштине, председника Републике, Владе, Уставног суда, судова и јавних тужилаштава.
Заштитника грађана бира и разрешава Народна скупштина, у складу са Уставом и законом.
... (Члан 138)
National Human Rights Bodies
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- EnglishThe powers of the Office of the Public Defender, in addition to those established in the Constitution and the law, are the following:
1. To file actions of Unconstitutionality, of Liberty, of Constitutional Protection, of Protection of Privacy, Popular actions, actions for Compliance and the direct appeal of nullity, without the requirement of having a mandate.
2. To present bills and modifications of laws, decrees and non-judicial resolutions in matters of its competence.
3. To investigate, on its own or at the request of a party, the acts or omissions that imply violations of rights, individual and collective, that are established in the Constitution, laws and international instruments, and request that the Public Ministry initiate the corresponding legal actions.
4. To request information from the authorities and public servants with respect to the investigations that the Public Defender is carrying out, to which no objection may be posed.
5. To formulate recommendations, reminders of legal duties, and suggestions for the immediate adoption of corrective measures for all the organs and institutions of the State, and to issue public censure for acts or behavior contrary to these formulations.
6. To have free access to the center of detention and prisons, to which no one may pose an objection.
7. To exercise its functions without interruption of any kind, even in the case of a declaration of a state of emergency.
8. To attend to the persons who request its services promptly and without discrimination.
9. To draft the regulations needed for the exercise of its functions. (Art. 222) - SpanishSon atribuciones de la Defensoría del Pueblo, además de las que establecen la Constitución y la ley:
1. Interponer las acciones de Inconstitucionalidad, de Libertad, de Amparo Constitucional, de Protección de Privacidad, Popular, de Cumplimiento y el recurso directo de nulidad, sin necesidad de mandato.
2. Presentar proyectos de ley y proponer modificaciones a leyes, decretos y resoluciones no judiciales en materia de su competencia.
3. Investigar, de oficio o a solicitud de parte, los actos u omisiones que impliquen violación de los derechos, individuales y colectivos, que se establecen en la Constitución, las leyes y los instrumentos internacionales, e instar al Ministerio Público al inicio de las acciones legales que correspondan.
4. Solicitar a las autoridades y servidores públicos información respecto a las investigaciones que realice la Defensoría del Pueblo, sin que puedan oponer reserva alguna.
5. Formular recomendaciones, recordatorios de deberes legales, y sugerencias para la inmediata adopción de correctivos y medidas a todos los órganos e instituciones del Estado, y emitir censura pública por actos o comportamientos contrarios a dichas formulaciones.
6. Acceder libremente a los centros de detención e internación, sin que pueda oponerse objeción alguna.
7. Ejercer sus funciones sin interrupción de ninguna naturaleza, aun en caso de declaratoria de estado de excepción.
8. Asistir con prontitud y sin discriminación a las personas que soliciten sus servicios.
9. Elaborar los reglamentos necesarios para el ejercicio de sus funciones. (Art. 222)
National Human Rights Bodies
Malawi
- English1. The human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter7 shall be respected and upheld by the executive, legislature, judiciary and all organs of the Government and its agencies and, where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Malawi and shall be enforceable in the manner prescribed in this Chapter.
2. Any person or group of persons, natural or legal, with sufficient interest in the promotion, protection and enforcement of rights under this Chapter shall be entitled to the assistance of the courts, the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission and other organs of the Government to ensure the promotion, protection and enforcement of those rights and the redress of any grievances in respect of those rights. (Sec. 15)
National Human Rights Bodies
South Africa
- English(1) The South African Human Rights Commission must—
(a) promote respect for human rights and a culture of human rights;
(b) promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights; and
(c) monitor and assess the observance of human rights in the Republic.
(2) The South African Human Rights Commission has the powers, as regulated by national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power—
(a) to investigate and to report on the observance of human rights;
(b) to take steps to secure appropriate redress where human rights have been violated;
(c) to carry out research; and
(d) to educate.
… (Sec. 184)