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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.
Marriage and Family Life
- English
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8) The State, according to its possibilities, guarantees to all, notably to the child, to the mother, to the handicapped, to the aged workers and to the elderly, the protection of health, social security, a preserved natural environment, rest and leisure;
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14) The family is the basic natural unit [cellule] of society[;] marriage, [the] union between two persons of different sex, is the legitimate support of it. They are placed under the particular protection of the State;
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16) The support to be given to children and their education constitute for parents a natural right and a duty which they exercise under the surveillance and with the aid of the State and of the public collectivities.
… (Art. 1) - French
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8°) L’Etat, selon ses possibilités, garantit à tous, notamment à l’enfant, à la mère, aux handicapés, aux vieux travailleurs et aux personnes âgées, la protection de la santé, la sécurité sociale, un environnement naturel préservé, le repos et les loisirs;
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14°) La famille est la cellule de base naturelle de la société, le mariage, union entre deux personnes de sexe différent, en est le support légitime. Ils sont placés sous la protection particulière de l'Etat.
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16°) Les soins à donner aux enfants et leur éducation constituent pour les parents, un droit naturel et un devoir qu’ils exercent sous la surveillance et avec l’aide de l’Etat et des collectivités publiques.
… (Art. 1)
Marriage and Family Life
- English...
(4) The provisions of this Chapter7 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...
(4) Vifungu katika Sura hii kwa usawa vitatumika 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)
Marriage and Family Life
- English...
(5) The jurisdiction of a Kadhis’ court shall be limited to the determination of questions of Muslim law relating to personal status, marriage, divorce or inheritance in proceedings in which all the parties profess the Muslim religion and submit to the jurisdiction of the Kadhi’s courts. (Art. 170) - Swahili...
(5) Mamlaka ya Mahakama ya Kadhi yatakuwa na mipaka itakayoishia katika kuamua shauri la sheria ya Kiisilamu inayohusiana na hadhi binafsi, ndoa, talaka au urithi katika kesi ambazo kwazo pande zote ni waumini wa dini ya Kiislamu na wanaitii mamlaka ya mahakama za Kadhi. (Kifungu cha 170)
Marriage and Family Life
- English1. All children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, are entitled to equal treatment before the law, and the best interests and welfare of children shall be a primary consideration in all decisions affecting them.
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3. Children have the right to know, and to be raised by, their parents.
4. All children shall be entitled to reasonable maintenance from their parents, whether such parents are married, unmarried or divorced, and from their guardians; and, in addition, all children, and particularly orphans, children with disabilities and other children in situations of disadvantage shall be entitled to live in safety and security and, where appropriate, to State assistance.
… (Sec. 23)
Marriage and Family Life
- English(1) ...
(f) No persons shall be compelled to give testimony against themselves or their spouses, who shall include partners in a marriage by customary law, and no Court shall admit in evidence against such persons testimony which has been obtained from such persons in violation of Article 8(2)(b) hereof.
... (Art. 12)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
(1) The right to marry and found a family is guaranteed by law.
(2) A civil monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is the only recognised marital union.
(3) However, a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman contracted outside Rwanda in accordance with the law of the country of celebration of the marriage is recognised.
(4) No one can enter into marriage without his or her free and full consent.
(5) Spouses are entitled to equal rights and obligations at the time of marriage, during the marriage and at the time of divorce.
(6) A law determines conditions, formalities and effects of marriage. (Art. 17) - Kinyarwanda
(1) Uburenganzira bwo gushyingiranwa no kugira umuryango burengerwa n’amategeko.
(2) Ugushyingiranwa k’umugabo umwe n’umugore umwe gukorewe mu butegetsi bwa Leta ni ko kwemewe.
(3) Icyakora, ugushyingiranwa k’umugabo umwe n’umugore umwe gukorewe mu mahanga mu buryo bwemewe n’amategeko y’Igihugu basezeraniyemo kuremewe.
(4) Ntawe ushobora gushyingirwa atabyemeye ku bushake bwe busesuye.
(5) Abashyingiranywe bafite uburenganzira n’inshingano bingana mu gihe cyo gushyingiranwa, igihe babana n’igihe cyo gutandukana.
(6) Itegeko rigena ibigomba gukurikizwa, uburyo n’inkurikizi z’ubushyingiranwe. (Ingingo ya 17) - French
(1) Le droit de se marier et de fonder une famille est garanti par la loi.
(2) Le mariage civil monogamique entre un homme et une femme est la seule union conjugale reconnue.
(3) Toutefois, le mariage monogamique entre un homme et une femme contractée à l’étranger conformément à la loi du pays de célébration de ce mariage est reconnu.
(4) Nul ne peut contracter le mariage sans son libre et plein consentement.
(5) Les époux ont les mêmes droits et les mêmes obligations au moment du mariage, dans le mariage et lors du divorce.
(6) Une loi détermine les conditions, les formalités et les effets du mariage. (Art. 17)
Marriage and Family Life
- English
… protection of maternity and of infancy … constitute the social and cultural rights recognized by this Constitution which sees to their promotion. (Art. 18)
- French
… la protection de la maternité et de l’enfance … constituent des droits sociaux et culturels reconnus par la présente Constitution qui vise à les promouvoir. (Art. 18)
Marriage and Family Life
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), (5), and (7), no law shall make provision which is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
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(3) In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, sex, 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 accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision—
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d. with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other interests of personal law;
… (Sec. 27)
Marriage and Family Life
- English1. Fathers and mothers must render assistance to children born in or out of wedlock, particularly with respect to their feeding, maintenance and upbringing.
2. Fathers and mothers shall have the right to protection by the society and by the State as regards the realization of their irreplaceable role in relation to children.
3. Fatherhood and motherhood shall constitute eminent social values. (Art. 89) - Portuguese1. Os pais e as mães devem prestar assistência aos filhos nascidos dentro e fora do casamento, nomeadamente quanto à sua alimentação, guarda e educação.
2. Os pais e as mães têm direito à protecção da sociedade e do Estado na realização da sua insubstituível acção em relação aos filhos.
3. A paternidade e a maternidade constituem valores sociais eminentes. (Art. 89)
Marriage and Family Life
- English(1) Every person is entitled to respect and protection of his person, the privacy of his own person, his family and of his matrimonial life, and respect and protection of his residence and private communications.
… (Art. 16)