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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.
Limitations and/or Derogations
- EnglishSubject to Article 190 herein, no derogation from the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Bill shall be made.
… (Art. 10)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) The fundamental rights and freedoms set out in this Chapter must be exercised reasonably and with due regard for the rights and freedoms of other persons.
(2) The fundamental rights and freedoms set out in this Chapter may be limited only in terms of a law of general application and to the extent that the limitation is fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all relevant factors, including—
(a) the nature of the right or freedom concerned;
(b) the purpose of the limitation, in particular whether it is necessary in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, regional or town planning or the general public interest;
(c) the nature and extent of the limitation;
(d) the need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and freedoms by any person does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others;
(e) the relationship between the limitation and its purpose, in particular whether it imposes greater restrictions on the right or freedom concerned than are necessary to achieve its purpose; and
(f) whether there are any less restrictive means of achieving the purpose of the limitation.
(3) No law may limit the following rights enshrined in this Chapter, and no person may violate them—
(a) the right to life, except to the extent specified in section 48;
(b) the right to human dignity;
(c) the right not to be tortured or subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
(d) the right not to be placed in slavery or servitude;
(e) the right to a fair trial;
(f) the right to obtain an order of habeas corpus as provided in section 50(7)(a). (Sec. 86)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- EnglishThe declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency may not in any way, affect the right to life, physical integrity, personal identity, civil capacity, citizenship, the non-retroactivity of penal law, the right of defense by the defendant and the freedom of conscience and of religion. (Art. 274)
- PortugueseA declaração do estado de sítio ou de emergência em nenhum caso pode afectar os direitos à vida, à integridade física, à identidade pessoal, à capacidade civil e à cidadania, a não retroactividade da lei penal, o direito de defesa do arguido e a liberdade de consciência e de religião. (Art. 274)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English1. The fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under this Constitution may be limited only in so far as is in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, health or morals, for the prevention of public disorder or crime or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
2. Any law providing for the limitation of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed in this Constitution must:
a. be consistent with the principles of democracy and justice;
b. be of general application and not negate the essential content of the right or freedom in question;
c. specify the ascertainable extent of such limitations and identify the article or articles hereof on which authority to enact such limitation is claimed to rest.
3. The provisions of Sub-Article 1 of this Article shall not be used to limit the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under Articles 14(1) and (2); 15;16; 17 (2), (5), (7) and (8); and 19 (1) of this Constitution. (Art. 26)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- EnglishUnder reserve of the provisions of Article 51, the National Assembly alone votes the law and controls the governmental action.
The law establishes the rules concerning:
- the guarantees of the freedoms, [and] of the fundamental rights, the conditions within which they are exercised and the limitations that may be brought [portées] to them;
… (Art. 72) - FrenchSous réserve des dispositions de l'article 51, l'Assemblée nationale vote seule la loi et contrôle l'action gouvernementale.
La loi fixe les règles concernant :
- les garanties des libertés, des droits fondamentaux, les conditions dans lesquelles ils s'exercent et les limitations qui peuvent y être portées ;
… (Art. 72)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English1. No restrictions or limitations may be placed on the exercise of any rights and freedoms provided for in this Constitution other than those prescribed by law, which are reasonable, recognized by international human rights standards and necessary in an open and democratic society.
2. Laws prescribing restrictions or limitations shall not negate the essential content of the right or freedom in question, and shall be of general application.
3. Expropriation of property shall be permissible only when done for public utility and only when there has been adequate notification and appropriate compensation, provided that there shall always be a right to appeal to a court of law.
4. Wherever it is stated in this Constitution that a person has the right to the services of a legal practitioner or medical practitioner of his or her own choice, that right shall be without limitation, save where the State is obliged to provide such services of a legal practitioner or medical practitioner, in which case an Act of Parliament may prescribe that the choice of the legal practitioner or medical practitioner should be limited to those in Government service or employment. (Sec. 44)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) Save in so far as it may be authorised to do so by this Constitution, Parliament or any subordinate legislative authority shall not make any law, and the Executive and the agencies of Government shall not take any action which abolishes or abridges the fundamental rights and freedoms conferred by this Chapter, and any law or action in contravention thereof shall to the extent of the contravention be invalid: provided that:
(a) a competent Court, instead of declaring such law or action to be invalid, shall have the power and the discretion in an appropriate case to allow Parliament, any subordinate legislative authority, or the Executive and the agencies of Government, as the case may be, to correct any defect in the impugned law or action within a specified period, subject to such conditions as may be specified by it. In such event and until such correction, or until the expiry of the time limit set by the Court, whichever be the shorter, such impugned law or action shall be deemed to be valid;
(b) any law which was in force immediately before the date of Independence shall remain in force until amended, repealed or declared unconstitutional. If a competent Court is of the opinion that such law is unconstitutional, it may either set aside the law, or allow Parliament to correct any defect in such law, in which event the provisions of Sub-Article (a) hereof shall apply.
... (Art. 25)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- EnglishWhereas every person in Sierra Leone is entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, has the right, whatever his race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following—
a. life, liberty, security of person, the enjoyment of property, and the protection of law;
b. freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association;
c. respect for private and family life, and
d. protection from deprivation of property without compensation;
the subsequent provisions of this Chapter3 shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to the aforesaid rights and freedoms, subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others, or the public interest. (Sec. 15)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) The human rights and freedoms, the principles of which are set out in this Constitution, shall not be exercised by a person in a manner that causes interference with or curtailment of the rights and freedoms of other persons or of the public interest.
(2) It is hereby declared that the provisions contained in this Part4 of this Constitution which set out the principles of rights, freedom and duties, does not render unlawful any existing law or prohibit the enactment of any law or the doing of any lawful act in accordance with such law for the purposes of
(a) ensuring that the rights and freedoms of other people or of the interests of the public are not prejudiced by the wrongful exercise of the freedoms and rights of individuals;
(b) ensuring the defence, public safety, public peace, public morality, public health, rural and urban development planning, the exploitation and utilization of minerals or the increase and development of property of any other interests for the purposes of enhancing the public benefit;
(c) ensuring the execution of a judgment or order of a court given or made in any civil or criminal matter;
(d) protecting the reputation, rights and freedoms of others or the privacy of persons involved in any court proceedings, prohibiting the disclosure of confidential information or safeguarding the dignity, authority and independence of the courts;
(e) imposing restrictions, supervising and controlling the formation, management and activities of private societies and organizations in the country; or
(f) enabling any other thing to be done which promotes or preserves the national interest in general.
… (Art. 30)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English
For the duration of a state of war, the Constitution is suspended, [and] the President of the Republic assumes all the powers.
… (Art. 101) - Arabic
يُوقَف العمل بالدّسترو مدّة حالة الحرب، ويتولّى رئيس الجمهوريّة جميع السّلطات.
… (المــادة 101) - French
Pendant la durée de l’état de guerre, la Constitution est suspendue, le Président de la République assume tous les pouvoirs.
… (Art. 101)