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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.
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishWHEREAS the people of Belize-
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(b) respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic system must result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all, that labour should not be exploited or forced by economic necessity to operate in inhumane conditions but that there should be opportunity for advancement on the basis of recognition of merit, ability and integrity, that equal protection should be given to children regardless of their social status, and that a just system should be ensured to provide for education and health on the basis of equality;
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(e) require policies of state which protect and safeguard the unity, freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Belize; which eliminate economic and social privilege and disparity among the citizens of Belize whether by race, ethnicity, colour, creed, disability or sex; which ensures gender equality; which protect the rights of the individual to life, liberty, basic education, basic health, the right to vote in elections, the right to work and the pursuit of happiness; which protect the identity, dignity and social and cultural values of Belizeans, including Belize's indigenous peoples; which preserve the right of the individual to the ownership of private property and the right to operate private businesses; which prohibit the exploitation of man by man or by the state; which ensure a just system of social security and welfare; which protect the environment; which promote international peace, security and co-operation among nations, the establishment of a just and equitable international economic and social order in the world with respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings among nations;
… (Preamble)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishThe social objectives of the State shall aim at:
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c. Guaranteeing a government policy aimed at raising the standard of living and of well-being of the society, based upon social justice, the integral and balanced development of State and society;
d. An equitable distribution of the national income, directed towards a fair distribution of well-being and wealth over all strata of the population;
e. Regional spreading of public utilities and economic activities;
… (Art. 6) - DutchDe sociale doelstellingen van de Staat zijn gericht op:
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c. het garanderen van een politiekvoering die strekt tot verhoging van welzijn en welvaart van de samenleving, gebaseerd op sociale rechtvaardigheid, de integrale en evenwichtige ontwikkeling van Staat en maatschappij;
d. een rechtvaardige verdeling van het nationaal inkomen, gericht op een rechtvaardige spreiding van welzijn en welvaart over alle lagen van de bevolking;
e. regionale spreiding van leefvoorzieningen en economische activiteiten;
… (Art. 6)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishThe function of the State in the economy consists of the following:
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7. To promote policies of equitable distribution of wealth and of the economic resources of the country, for the purpose of preventing inequality, social and economic exclusion, and to eradicate poverty in its multiple dimensions.
… (Art. 316) - SpanishLa función del Estado en la economía consiste en:
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7. Promover políticas de distribución equitativa de la riqueza y de los recursos económicos del país, con el objeto de evitar la desigualdad, la exclusión social y económica, y erradicar la pobreza en sus múltiples dimensiones.
… (Art. 316)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishThe general well-being and improvement of the quality of life of the population are social purposes of the State. A basic objective of its activity will be the solution of the unsatisfied needs of health, of education, of the environment, and of potable water. … (Art. 366)
- SpanishEl bienestar general y el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de la población son finalidades sociales del Estado. Será objetivo fundamental de su actividad la solución de las necesidades insatisfechas de salud, de educación, de saneamiento ambiental y de agua potable. … (Art. 366)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishPublic services are meant to satisfy the necessities of collective interest. They shall be declared by law. Consequently:
1. The State guarantees access to public services of quality, directly or by delegation, through concession, authorization, association in participation, transfer of actionable property or other contractual modality, in accordance with this Constitution and the law.
2. Public services given by the State or by individuals, the legal or contractual modalities, must respond to the principles of universality, accessibility, efficiency, transparency, responsibility, continuity, quality, reasonability, and equity of price.
… (Art. 147) - SpanishLos servicios públicos están destinados a satisfacer las necesidades de interés colectivo. Serán declarados por ley. En consecuencia:
1) El Estado garantiza el acceso a servicios públicos de calidad, directamente o por delegación, mediante concesión, autorización, asociación en participación, transferencia de la propiedad accionaria u otra modalidad contractual, de conformidad con esta Constitución y la ley;
2) Los servicios públicos prestados por el Estado o por los particulares, en las modalidades legales o contractuales, deben responder a los principios de universalidad, accesibilidad, eficiencia, transparencia, responsabilidad, continuidad, calidad, razonabilidad y equidad tarifaria;
… (Art. 147)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishThe development structure shall have the following objectives:
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2. To build a fair, democratic, productive, mutually supportive and sustainable economic system based on the egalitarian distribution of the benefits of development and the means of production, and on the creation of decent, stable employment.
… (Art. 276) - SpanishEl régimen de desarrollo tendrá los siguientes objetivos:
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2. Construir un sistema económico, justo, democrático, productivo, solidario y sostenible basado en la distribución igualitaria de los beneficios del desarrollo, de los medios de producción y en la generación de trabajo digno y estable.
… (Art. 276)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishThe social security constitutes a public service of an obligatory character. The law will regulate its scope, extent, and form.
Said service shall be rendered by one or various institutions, which must observe among them an adequate coordination to assure a good policy of social protection, in [a] specialized form and with optimum utilization of resources.
The employers, workers, and the State will contribute to the payment of the social security in the form and quantity determined by the law.
… (Art. 50) - SpanishLa seguridad social constituye un servicio público de carácter obligatorio. La ley regulará sus alcances, extensión y forma.
Dicho servicio será prestado por una o varias instituciones, las que deberán guardar entre sí la adecuada coordinación para asegurar una buena política de protección social, en forma especializada y con óptima utilización de los recursos.
Al pago de la seguridad social contribuirán los patronos, los trabajadores y el Estado en la forma y cuantía que determine la ley.
… (Art. 50)
Public Institutions and Services
- EnglishThe family, marriage, motherhood and childhood are under the protection of the State. (Art. 111)
- SpanishLa familia, el matrimonio, la maternidad y la infancia están bajo la protección del Estado. (Art. 111)
Public Institutions and Services
- English
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The services of education, health, and social security, are the indeclinable duties of the State, which is obligated to provide them without exclusions, to improve them and to expand them [ampliarlos]. The installations and infrastructure of these services [which are] property of the State, may not be alienated under any modality. …
The gratuity of health care [salud] for the vulnerable sectors of the population, prioritizing the provision [cumplimiento] of maternal-infant programs[,] is guaranteed. The model of family and community health care will be developed.
… (Art. 105) - Spanish
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Los servicios de educación, salud y seguridad social, son deberes indeclinables del Estado, que está obligado a prestarlos sin exclusiones, a mejorarlos y ampliarlos. Las instalaciones e infraestructura de dichos servicios propiedad del Estado, no pueden ser enajenadas bajo ninguna modalidad. …
Se garantiza la gratuidad de la salud para los sectores vulnerables de la población, priorizando el cumplimiento de los programas materno infantil. Se desarrollará el modelo de salud familiar y comunitaria.
... (Art. 105)
Public Institutions and Services
- English
The community and the State especially protect the child, the adolescent, the mother and the older person in [a] situation of abandonment. They also protect the family and promote matrimony. These latter are recognized as natural and fundamental institutions of society.
… (Art. 4) - Spanish
La comunidad y el Estado protegen especialmente al niño, al adolescente, a la madre y al anciano en situación de abandono. También protegen a la familia y promueven el matrimonio. Reconocen a estos últimos como institutos naturales y fundamentales de la sociedad.
… (Art. 4)