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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 129 RESULTS
Limitations and/or Derogations
Eritrea
- English1. The National Assembly or any subordinate legislative authority shall not make any law, and the Executive and the agencies of government shall not take any action that abolishes or abridges the fundamental rights and freedoms conferred by this Constitution, unless so authorised by this Constitution. Any law or action in violation thereof shall be null and void.
… (Art. 28)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Guinea-Bissau
- English…
2. The exercise of fundamental rights, liberties and guarantees will only be suspended or limited in case of a state of emergency, proclaimed in accordance to the established by the Constitution and the law.
3. Laws that limit rights, liberties and guarantees are deemed as general and abstract, and should be limited to the necessary to protect other constitutionally protected rights or interests, and cannot be retroactive, nor diminish the essential content of those rights. (Art. 30) - Portuguese...
2 - O exercício dos direitos, liberdades e garantias fundamentais só poderá ser suspenso ou limitado em caso de estado de emergência, declarados nos termos da Constituição e da lei.
3 - As leis restritivas de direitos, liberdades e garantias têm carácter geral e abstracto, devem limitar-se ao necessário para salvaguardar outros direitos ou interesses constitucionalmente protegidos e não podem ter efeitos retroactivos, nem diminuir o conteúdo essencial dos direitos. (Art. 30)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Malawi
- English1. Save in so far as it may be authorized to do so by this Constitution, the National Assembly 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 rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter, and any law or action in contravention thereof shall, to the extent of the contravention, be invalid.
… (Sec. 46)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Namibia
- EnglishNo repeal or amendment of any of the provisions of Chapter 38 hereof, in so far as such repeal or amendment diminishes or detracts from the fundamental rights and freedoms contained and defined in that Chapter, shall be permissible under this Constitution, and no such purported repeal or amendment shall be valid or have any force or effect. (Art. 131)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Sierra Leone
- English...
(5) During a period of public emergency, the President may make such regulations and take such measures as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of maintaining and securing peace, order and good government in Sierra Leone or any part thereof.
(6) Without derogating from the generality of the powers conferred by subsection (5) and notwithstanding the provisions of this Chapter, the regulations or measures may, so far as appears to the President to be necessary or expedient for any of the purposes mentioned in that subsection—
a. make provision for the detention of persons, the restriction of the movement of persons within defined localities, and the deportation and exclusion of persons other than citizens of Sierra Leone from Sierra Leone or any part thereof;
b. authorise—
i. the taking of possession or control on behalf of the Government of any property or undertaking;
ii. the acquisition on behalf of the Government of any property other than land;
c. authorise the entering and search of any premises;
d. amend any law, suspend the operation of any law, and apply any law with or without modification:
Provided that such amendment, suspension or modification shall not apply to this Constitution;
e. provide for charging, in respect of the grant or issue of any licence, permit, certificate or other document for the purpose of the regulations, such fees as may be prescribed by or under the regulations;
f. provide for payment of compensation and remuneration to persons affected by the regulations;
g. provide for the apprehension, trial and punishment of persons offending against the regulations;
h. provide for maintaining such supplies and services as are, in the opinion of the President, essential to the life and well-being of the community:
Provided that nothing in this subsection shall authorise the making of regulations during a period of public emergency for the trial of persons who are not members of defence forces by military courts.
…
(18) 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 authorises the taking during a period of a state of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists immediately before and during that period of a state of public emergency. (Sec. 29)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Togo
- EnglishThe exercise of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution may only be subject to the restrictions expressly provided by the law and necessary for the protection of the national security, of the public order, of the public health, of morality or of the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. (Art. 14)
- FrenchL'exercice des droits et libertés garantis par la présente Constitution ne peut être soumis qu'à des restrictions expressément prévues par la loi et nécessaires à la protection de la sécurité nationale, de l'ordre public, de la santé publique, de la morale ou des libertés et droits fondamentaux d'autrui. (Art. 14)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Angola
- English1. The exercise of the rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens may only be limited or suspended in the event of a state of war, siege or emergency, under the terms of the Constitution and the law.
2. A state of war, siege or emergency may only be declared in part or all of national territory in cases of actual or imminent aggression by foreign forces, serious threat to, or disturbance of, the constitutional democratic order, or public disaster.
3. The decision to opt for a state of war, siege or emergency, in addition to its declaration and implementation must always be limited to the necessary and appropriate actions required to maintain public order and protect general interests, observing the principle of proportionality and being limited, particularly with regard to extent and duration and the means employed, to that which is strictly necessary to promptly restore constitutional normality.
4. The declaration of a state of war, siege or emergency shall confer on the public authorities the power and responsibility to take the appropriate steps needed to restore constitutional normality.
5. Under no circumstances may the declaration of a state of war, siege or emergency effect:
a) The application of constitutional rules concerning the responsibilities and functioning of the bodies that exercise sovereign power;
b) The rights and immunities of the members of bodies that exercise sovereign power;
c) The right to life, personal integrity and personal identity;
d) Civil capacity and citizenship;
e) The non-retroactive nature of criminal law;
f) The right to a defence;
g) Freedom of conscience and religion.
6. Special law shall regulate the state of war, siege or emergency. (Art. 58) - Portuguese1. O exercício dos direitos, liberdades e garantias dos cidadãos apenas pode ser limitado ou suspenso em caso de estado de guerra, de estado de sítio ou de estado de emergência, nos termos da Constituição e da lei.
2. O estado de guerra, o estado de sítio e o estado de emergência só podem ser declarados, no todo ou em parte do território nacional, nos casos de agressão efectiva ou iminente por forças estrangeiras, de grave ameaça ou perturbação da ordem constitucional democrática ou de calamidade pública.
3. A opção pelo estado de guerra, estado de sítio ou estado de emergência, bem como a respectiva declaração e execução, devem sempre limitar-se às acções necessárias e adequadas à manutenção da ordem pública, à protecção do interesse geral, ao respeito do princípio da proporcionalidade e limitar-se, nomeadamente quanto à sua extensão, duração e meios utilizados, ao estritamente necessário ao pronto restabelecimento da normalidade constitucional.
4. A declaração do estado de guerra, do estado de sítio ou do estado de emergência confere às autoridades competência para tomarem as providências necessárias e adequadas ao pronto restabelecimento da normalidade constitucional.
5. Em caso algum a declaração do estado de guerra, do estado de sítio ou do estado de emergência pode afectar:
a) A aplicação das regras constitucionais relativas à competência e ao funcionamento dos órgãos de soberania;
b) Os direitos e imunidades dos membros dos órgãos de soberania;
c) O direito à vida, à integridade pessoal e à identidade pessoal;
d) A capacidade civil e a cidadania;
e) A não retroactividade da lei penal;
f) O direito de defesa dos arguidos;
g) A liberdade de consciência e de religião.
6. Lei especial regula o estado de guerra, o estado de sítio e o estado de emergência. (Art. 58)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Comoros
- EnglishThe rights, the freedoms and the guarantees may not be made the object of suspension except in case of declaration of the state of siege or of the state of urgency, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. (Art. 19)
- Arabicلا يجوز أن تشكل الحقوق والحريات والضمانات موضوع تعليق باستثناء في حالة إعلان حالة الحصار أو حالة ملحة وفقاً لأحكام الدستور. (المادة 19)
- FrenchLes droits, les libertés et les garanties ne peuvent faire l'objet d'une suspension qu'en cas de déclaration d'état de siège ou d’état d'urgence, conformément aux dispositions de la Constitution. (Art. 19)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Eswatini
- EnglishThe exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations, and accordingly, it shall be the duty of every citizen to -
…
(d) respect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of others, and generally to refrain from doing acts detrimental to the welfare of other persons;
… (Sec. 63)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Kenya
- English(1) A right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights shall not be limited except by law, and then only to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all relevant factors including—
(a) the nature of the right or fundamental freedom;
(b) the importance of the purpose of the limitation;
(c) the nature and extent of the limitation;
(d) the need to ensure that the enjoyment of rights and fundamental freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and fundamental freedoms of others; and
(e) the relation between the limitation and its purpose and whether there are less restrictive means to achieve the purpose.
(2) Despite clause (1), a provision in legislation limiting a right or fundamental freedom—
(a) in the case of a provision enacted or amended on or after the effective date, is not valid unless the legislation specifically expresses the intention to limit that right or fundamental freedom, and the nature and extent of the limitation;
(b) shall not be construed as limiting the right or fundamental freedom unless the provision is clear and specific about the right or freedom to be limited and the nature and extent of the limitation; and
(c) shall not limit the right or fundamental freedom so far as to derogate from its core or essential content.
(3) The State or a person seeking to justify a particular limitation shall demonstrate to the court, tribunal or other authority that the requirements of this Article have been satisfied.
(4) The provisions of this Chapter on equality shall be qualified to the extent strictly necessary for the application of Muslim law before the Kadhis’ courts, to persons who profess the Muslim religion, in matters relating to personal status, marriage, divorce and inheritance.
… (Art. 24) - Swahili(1) Haki au uhuru wa msingi katika Sheria ya Haki za Binadamu haitakuwa na mpaka isipokuwa kwa sheria, na tena kwa kiwango ambacho mpaka huo una mantiki na unathibitika kwenye jamii ya uwazi na ya kidemokrasia kwa msingi wa utu wa binadamu, usawa na uhuru, kwa kuzingatia mambo yote muhimu ikiwa ni pamoja na—
(a) asili ya uhuru au haki ya msingi;
(b) umuhimu wa madhumuni ya mpaka huo;
(c) asili na kiwango cha mpaka huo;
(d) hitaji la kuhakikisha kuwa unufaikaji wa uhuru wa msingi na haki kwa mtu yeyote hauathiri uhuru wa msingi na haki ya watu wengine; na
(e) uhusiano kati ya mpaka na madhumuni yake na ikiwa kuna njia zenye ugumu kidogo za kufikia kusudi hilo.
(2) Licha ya ibara ya (1), kifungu katika sheria kinachozuia haki au uhuru wa msingi-
(a) ikiwa kuna sheria iliyotungwa au kufanyiwa marekebisho tarehe hiyo au baada ya tarehe ya utekelezaji, si halali isipokuwa sheria hiyo ielezee kwa umahususi kusudi la kuwekea mipaka haki hiyo au uhuru wa msingi na asili na kiwango cha mpaka huo;
(b) haitachukuliwa kuwa inaiwekea mpaka haki au uhuru wa msingi kama sheria hiyo haiko dhahiri na mahususi kuhusu uhuru wa msingi na haki ambayo itawekewa mipaka na asili na kiwango cha mpaka huo; na
(c) haitawekea mipaka haki au uhuru wa msingi hadi kufikia kiwango cha kupunguza kwenye maudhui yake ya msingi au muhimu.
(3) Serikali au mtu anayetafuta kuhalalisha mpaka fulani ataielezea mahakama, baraza au mamlaka nyingineyo kwamba matakwa ya Kifungu hiki yamekamilishwa.
(4) Sheria za Sura hii juu ya usawa zitahalalishwa kwa kiwango ambacho ni lazima kabisa kutumia sharia ya Kiislamu mbele ya mahakama za Kadhi, kwa watu ambao ni waumini wa dini ya Kiisilamu, katika maswala yanayohusu hadhi ya binafsi, ndoa, talaka na urithi.
… (Kifungu cha 24)