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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.
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- EnglishWE, THE GUYANESE PEOPLE,
… proclaim this Constitution in order to:
…
Forge a system of governance that promotes concerted effort and broad-based participation in national decision-making in order to develop a viable economy and a harmonious community based on democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights, and the rule of law;
… (Preamble)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- English
National sovereignty resides in the People who exercise it through democratic instruments[,] deciding and participating freely in the construction and perfecting of the economic, political, cultural and social system of the nation. The people exercise the sovereign power through their representatives freely elected by universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage, barring any other individual or group of persons from arrogating this representation. It may be also exercised directly by means of the referendum and of the plebiscite. In the same way, it will be able to [podrd] exercise it through other direct mechanisms, such as the participative budgets, the citizen initiatives, the territorial Councils, the territorial and communal assemblies of the indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples, the sectoral Councils, and other procedures [procedimientos] that this Constitution and the laws establish. (Art. 2)
- Spanish
La soberanía nacional reside en el pueblo y la ejerce a través de instrumentos democráticos decidiendo y participando libremente en la construcción y perfeccionamiento del sistema económico, político, cultural y social de la nación. El poder soberano lo ejerce el pueblo por medio de sus representantes libremente elegidos por sufragio universal, igual, directo y secreto, sin que ninguna otra persona o reunión de personas pueda arrogarse esta representación. También lo puede ejercer de forma directa a través del referéndum y el plebiscito. Asimismo, podrá ejercerlo a través de otros mecanismos directos, como los presupuestos participativos, las iniciativas ciudadanas, los Consejos territoriales, las asambleas territoriales y comunales de los pueblos originarios y afrodescendientes, los Consejos sectoriales, y otros procedimientos que se establezcan en la presente Constitución y las leyes. (Art. 2)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (7) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
(3) In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by sex, race, place of origin, political opinions, color or creed whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such descriptions are not made subject or are recorded privileges of advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
…
(5) Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to sex, race, place or origin, political opinions, color or creed) to be required of any person who is appointed to or to act in any office or employment.
… (Sec. 13)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- EnglishA constitutional organic law will determine the basic organization of the Public Administration, will guarantee the functionary career and the principles of a technical and professional character on which it must be based; and will assure both the equality of opportunities for entering it and [for] the training [capacitación] and improvement [perfeccionamiento] of its members.
… (Art. 38) - SpanishUna ley orgánica constitucional determinará la organización básica de la Administración Pública, garantizará la carrera funcionaria y los principios de carácter técnico y profesional en que deba fundarse, y asegurará tanto la igualdad de oportunidades de ingreso a ella como la capacitación y el perfeccionamiento de sus integrantes.
… (Art. 38)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- EnglishPersons wishing to have a career in the armed forces or police force shall not be discriminated against for admittance. The law shall stipulate the specific requirements for those cases where special skills, knowledge or capabilities are required.
Members of the Armed Forces and the National Police Force shall be subject to specific laws governing their rights and obligations and subject to their system of advancement and promotions based on merit and gender equity criteria. Their job security and professional development shall be guaranteed.
… (Art. 160) - SpanishLas personas aspirantes a la carrera militar y policial no serán discriminadas para su ingreso. La ley establecerá los requisitos específicos para los casos en los que se requiera de habilidades, conocimientos o capacidades especiales.
Los miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas y de la Policía Nacional estarán sujetos a las leyes específicas que regulen sus derechos y obligaciones, y su sistema de ascensos y promociones con base en méritos y con criterios de equidad de género. Se garantizará su estabilidad y profesionalización.
… (Art. 160)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- English(1) Every woman is entitled to equal rights and status with men in all spheres of political, economic and social life. All forms of discrimination against women on the basis of gender or sex are illegal.
(2) Every woman is entitled to equal access with men to academic, vocational and professional training, equal opportunities in employment, remuneration and promotion and in social, political and cultural activity. (Art. 149F)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- EnglishPolitical rights and the capacity to perform public functions with power and jurisdiction are reserved to natural born Panamanian cultures. (Art. 132)
- SpanishLos derechos políticos y la capacidad para ejercer cargos públicos con mando y jurisdicción, se reservan a los ciudadanos panameños. (Art. 132)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- EnglishWhereas the People of Trinidad and Tobago—
…
(c) have asserted their belief in a democratic society in which all persons may, to the extent of their capacity, play some part in the institutions of the national life and thus develop and maintain due respect for lawfully constituted authority;
... (Preamble)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- English…
Now, therefore, the people of Barbados
…
(c) declare their intention to establish and maintain a society in which all persons may, to the full extent of their capacity, play a due part in the institutions of the national life;
… (Preamble)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- EnglishBy means of the statutory laws, the Congress of the Republic will regulate the following matters:
…
d. Institutions and mechanisms of citizen participation;
… (Art. 152) - SpanishMediante las leyes estatutarias, el Congreso de la República regulará las siguientes materias:
…
d) Instituciones y mecanismos de participación ciudadana.
… (Art. 152)