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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 452 RESULTS
Limitations and/or Derogations
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
- EnglishThe President of the Republic, at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, shall have the power to decree states of exception. Expressly defined as such are circumstances of a social, economic, political, natural or ecological nature which seriously affect the security of the Nation, institutions and citizens, in the face of which the powers available to cope with such events are insufficient. In such case, the guarantees contained in this Constitution may be temporarily restricted, with the exception of those relating to the right to life, prohibition of incommunicative detention or torture, the right to due process, the right to information and other intangible human rights. (Art. 337)
- SpanishEl Presidente o Presidenta de la República, en Consejo de Ministros, podrá decretar los estados de excepción. Se califican expresamente como tales las circunstancias de orden social, económico, político, natural o ecológico, que afecten gravemente la seguridad de la Nación, de las instituciones y de los ciudadanos y ciudadanas, a cuyo respecto resultan insuficientes las facultades de las cuales se disponen para hacer frente a tales hechos. En tal caso, podrán ser restringidas temporalmente las garantías consagradas en esta Constitución, salvo las referidas a los derechos a la vida, prohibición de incomunicación o tortura, el derecho al debido proceso, el derecho a la información y los demás derechos humanos intangibles (Art. 337)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Malta
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (4), (5) and (7) of this article, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-articles (6), (7) and (8) of this article, no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(3) In this article, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Sub-article (1) of this article shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision –
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(e) for authorising the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency;
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(7) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision (not being provisions specifically relating to sex) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in sub-article (3) of this article may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by articles 38, 40, 41, 42 and 44 of this Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorised by article 38(2), 40(2), 41(2), 42(2) or 44(3).
... (Art. 45) - Maltese(1) Bla ħsara għad-disposizzjonijiet tas-subartikoli (4), (5) u (7) ta’ dan l-artikolu, ebda liġi ma għandha tagħmel xi disposizzjoni li tkun diskriminatorja sew fiha nnifisha jew fl-effett tagħha.
(2) Bla ħsara għad-disposizzjonijiet tas-subartikoli (6), (7) u (8) ta’ dan l-artikolu, ħadd ma għandu jiġi trattat b’mod diskriminatorju minn xi persuna li taġixxi bis-saħħa ta’ xi liġi miktuba jew fil-qadi tal-funzjonijiet ta’ xi kariga pubblika jew xi awtorità pubblika.
(3) F’dan l-artikolu, il-kelma "diskriminatorju" tfisser għoti ta’ trattament differenti lil persuni differenti attribwibbli għal kollox jew prinċipalment għad-deskrizzjoni tagħhom rispettiva skont ir-razza, post ta’ oriġini, opinjonijiet politiċi, kulur, fidi, sess, orjentazzjoni sesswali jew identità tal-ġeneru li minħabba fihom persuni ta’ deskrizzjoni waħda bħal dawn ikunu suġġetti għal inkapaċitajiet jew restrizzjonijiet li persuni ta’ deskrizzjoni oħra bħal dawn ma jkunux suġġetti għalihom jew ikunu mogħtija privileġġi jew vantaġġi li ma jkunux mogħtija lil persuni ta’ deskrizzjoni oħra bħal dawn.
(4) Is-subartikolu (1) ta’ dan l-artikolu ma għandux jgħodd għal xi liġi safejn dik il-liġi tipprovdi –
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(e) għall-awtorizzazzjoni tat-teħid matul perijodu ta’ emerġenza pubblika ta’ miżuri li jkunu raġonevolment ġustifikabbli sabiex tiġi milqugħa s-sitwazzjoni li tkun teżisti matul dak il-perijodu ta’ emerġenza pubblika:
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(7) Ebda ħaġa li tkun hemm jew li tkun magħmula bl-awtorità ta’ xi liġi ma għandha titqies li tkun inkonsistenti ma jew bi ksur ta’ dan l-artikolu safejn il-liġi in kwistjoni tagħmel provvediment (li ma jkunux provvedimenti li jirrigwardaw is-sess speċifikatament) li li bih persuni ta’ xi deskrizzjoni bħal dik kif hija msemmija fis-subartikolu (3) ta’ dan l-artikolu jistgħu jiġu assoġġettati għal xi restrizzjoni fuq drittijiet u libertajiet garantiti bl-artikoli 38, 40, 41, 42 u 44 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni, li tkun restrizzjoni bħal dik kif awtorizzata bl-artikolu 38(2), 40(2), 41(2), 42(2) jew 44(3).
... (Art. 45)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Malawi
- English1. No derogation from rights contained in this Chapter8 shall be permissible save to the extent provided for by this section and no such derogation shall be made unless there has been a declaration of a state of emergency within the meaning of this section.
2. There shall be no derogation with regard to—
a. the right to life;
b. the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
c. the prohibition of genocide;
d. the prohibition of slavery, the slave trade and slave-like practices;
e. the prohibition of imprisonment for failure to meet contractual obligations;
f. the prohibition on retrospective criminalization and the retrospective imposition of greater penalties for criminal acts;
g. the right to equality and recognition before the law;
h. the right to freedom of conscience, belief, thought and religion and to academic freedom; or
i. the right to habeas corpus.
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4. Derogation from the rights contained in this Chapter, other than the rights listed in subsection (2), shall be permissible during a state of emergency within the meaning of this section and to the extent that—
a. such derogation is consistent with the obligations of Malawi under international law; and
b. in the case of—
i. war or threat of war, it is strictly required to prevent the lives of defensive combatants and civilians as well as legitimate military objectives from being placed in direct jeopardy; or
ii. a widespread natural disaster, it is strictly required for the protection and relief of those people and facilities whether in or outside the disaster area.
… (Sec. 45)
Limitations and/or Derogations
South Africa
- English...
(2) A provision of the Bill of Rights binds a natural or a juristic person if, and to the extent that, it is applicable, taking into account the nature of the right and the nature of any duty imposed by the right.
(3) When applying a provision of the Bill of Rights to a natural or juristic person in terms of subsection (2), a court-
(a) in order to give effect to a right in the Bill, must apply, or if necessary develop, the common law to the extent that legislation does not give effect to that right; and
(b) may develop rules of the common law to limit the right, provided that the limitation is in accordance with section 36 (1).
… (Sec. 8)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Cambodia
- English…
The exercise of personal rights and liberties by any individual shall not adversely affect the rights and freedom of others. The exercise of such rights and liberties shall be in accordance with the law. (Art. 31) - Khmer...
ការប្រើសិទ្ធិសេរីភាពផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនរបស់បុគ្គលម្នាក់ៗ មិនត្រូវ ឱ្យប៉ះពាល់ដល់សិទ្ធិ សេរីភាពអ្នកដទៃឡើយ។ ការប្រើសិទ្ធិ សេរីភាពនេះ ត្រូវប្រព្រឹត្តតាមលក្ខខណ្ឌកំណត់ក្នុងច្បាប់។ (មាត្រា ៣១)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Romania
- English(1) The exercise of certain rights or freedoms may only be restricted by law, and only if necessary, as the case may be, for: the defence of national security, of public order, health, or morals, of the citizens' rights and freedoms; conducting a criminal investigation; preventing the consequences of a natural calamity, disaster, or an extremely severe catastrophe.
(2) Such restriction shall only be ordered if necessary in a democratic society. The measure shall be proportional to the situation having caused it, applied without discrimination, and without infringing on the existence of such right or freedom. (Art. 53) - Romanian(1) Exerciţiul unor drepturi sau al unor libertăţi poate fi restrâns numai prin lege şi numai dacă se impune, după caz, pentru: apărarea securităţii naţionale, a ordinii, a sănătăţii ori a moralei publice, a drepturilor şi a libertăţilor cetăţenilor; desfăşurarea instrucţiei penale; prevenirea consecinţelor unei calamităţi naturale, ale unui dezastru ori ale unui sinistru deosebit de grav.
(2) Restrângerea poate fi dispusă numai dacă este necesară într-o societate democratică. Măsura trebuie să fie proporţională cu situaţia care a determinat-o, să fie aplicată în mod nediscriminatoriu şi fără a aduce atingere existenţei dreptului sau a libertăţii. (Art. 53)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Uganda
- English1. An Act of Parliament shall not be taken to contravene the rights and freedoms guaranteed in this Chapter, if that Act authorises the taking of measures that are reasonably justifiable for dealing with a state of emergency.
2. The provisions of any enactment other than an Act of Parliament dealing with a state of emergency declared under this Constitution shall apply only to that part of Uganda where the emergency exists.
3. Without prejudice to clause (1) of this article, an Act enacted in accordance with that clause may make provision for the detention of persons where necessary for the purposes of dealing with the emergency. (Art. 46)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Indonesia
- English(1) Every person shall have the duty to respect the human rights of others in the orderly life of the community, nation and state.
(2) In exercising his/her rights and freedoms, every person shall have the duty to accept the restrictions established by law for the sole purposes of guaranteeing the recognition and respect of the rights and freedoms of others and of satisfying just demands based upon considerations of morality, religious values, security and public order in a democratic society. (Art. 28J) - Indonesian(1) Setiap orang wajib menghormati hak asasi manusia orang lain dalam tertib kehidupan bermasyarakat, berbangsa, dan bernegara.
(2) Dalam menjalankan hak dan kebebasannya, setiap orang wajib tunduk kepada pembatasan yang ditetapkan dengan undang-undang dengan maksud semata-mata untuk menjamin pengakuan serta penghormatan atas hak dan kebebasan orang lain dan untuk memenuhi tuntutan yang adil sesuai dengan pertimbangan moral, nilai-nilai agama, keamanan, dan ketertiban umum dalam suatu masyarakat demokratis. (Pasal 28J)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Sweden
- EnglishNo act of law or other provision may be adopted which contravenes Sweden’s undertakings under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. (Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Art. 19)
- SwedishLag eller annan föreskrift får inte meddelas i strid med Sveriges åtaganden på grund av den europeiska konventionen angående skydd för de mänskliga rättigheterna och de grundläggande friheterna. (Kungörelse (1974:152) om beslutad ny regeringsform, 2 kap, 19§)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Barbados
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this section—
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect;
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(2) In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed, whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
(3) Subsection (1)(a) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision—
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(d) for authorising the taking during a period of public emergency of measures that are reasonably justifiable for the purpose of dealing with the situation that exists during that period of public emergency;
… (Sec. 23)