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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.
National level
- English
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Legislative Assembly shall consist of one member elected for each of 51 electoral constituencies having names, and comprising of villages or sub-villages as are prescribed from time to time by Act.
(1A) Subject to this Article, women Members of the Legislative Assembly shall:
(a) consist of a minimum of 10% of the Members of the Legislative Assembly specified under clause (1) which for the avoidance of doubt is presently five (5); and
(b) be elected pursuant to clause (1) or become additional Members pursuant to clause (1B), (1D) or (1E).
(1B) If, following any general election:
(a) all members elected under clause (1) are men, the prescribed number of women candidates (if any) with the highest number of votes shall become additional Members; or
(b) less than the prescribed number of women candidates are elected under clause (1), the remaining prescribed number of women candidates (if any) with the highest number of votes shall become additional Members for the purposes of clause (1A).
(1C) Clause (1B) does not apply if the prescribed number of women are all elected under clause (1).
(1D) If the seat of an additional Member becomes vacant, it shall, despite Article 48, be filled by the woman candidate (if any) who has the next highest number of votes at the last election or general election.
(1E) Subject to Article 48, if a seat under clause (1) held by a woman becomes vacant, to which a man is elected to fill that vacant seat, the woman candidate (if any) with the highest number of votes from that election or the last election or general election shall become the additional Member.
(1F) If, in the selection of the required number of women under clause (1B), (1D) or (1E), two (2) or more candidates have equal number of votes, the additional Member shall be selected by lot before the Electoral Commissioner with the presence of the candidates or their authorised representatives and at least two (2) police officers.
(1G) If a woman candidate becomes an additional Member of a constituency (irrespective of a woman candidate being elected to that constituency), no other woman candidate from the same constituency shall become an additional Member unless there is no other woman candidate from any other constituency to make up the required prescribed number.
…
(5) In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Additional Member” means a woman who is a Member of Parliament by virtue of clause (1B), (1D), or (1E) for the purposes of clause (1A);
“Highest number of votes” means the percentage of the total valid votes in a constituency polled by a woman candidate;
“Prescribed number” means the minimum number of woman Members of Parliament specified under clause (1A). (Art. 44) - Samoan
(1) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i aiaiga o lenei Mataupu, o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono, e tatau ona aofia ai le sui usufono e toatasi ua filifilia mo itumalo faiga palota taitasi e 51 ua i ai igoa, ma e aofia ai nuu po o pitonuu e pei ona faatonuina mai lea taimi i lea taimi e le Tulafono.
(1A) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i lenei Mataupu, e tatau i Sui Usufono tamaitai o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono ona:
(a) aofia ai se fuainumera maualalo a itiiti mai e 10% o Sui Usufono o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono ua faamaoti mai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1) lea e mo le aveesea ai o se tulaga masalomia, e toalima (5) o lo o i ai i le taimi nei; ma
(e) ia filifilia e tusa ai ma le fuaiupu (1) po o ia avea ai ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo e tusa ai ma le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U).
(1E) Afai, i le maea ai o so o se faiga palota aoao:
(a) o sui usufono uma ua filifilia i lalo o le fuaiupu (1) o alii, o le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai (pe afai e iai) e maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo; po o
(e) e itiiti ifo mai le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai ua filifilia i lalo o le fuaiupu (1), o le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai o lo o totoe (pe afai e i ai) e maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo mo faamoemoega o le fuaiupu (1A).
(1I) E lē faaaogāina le fuaiupu (1E) pe afai ua filifilia uma le aofai faatonuina o tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1).
(1O) Afai ua avanoa le nofoa o se Sui Usufono faaopoopo, e tatau, e ui lava i le Mataupu 48, ona faatumuina e se sui tamaitai (pe afai e i ai) o ia lea na ia maua le fuainumera maualuga e sosoo atu i ai o palota i le faiga palota po o le faiga palota aoao talu ai.
(1U) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i le Mataupu 48, afai ua avanoa se nofoa sa umia e se tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1), lea ua filifilia i ai se alii na te faatumuina lea nofoa, o le sui tamaitai (pe afai e i ai) na ia maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota mai lea faiga palota po o le faiga palota talu ai po o le faiga palota aoao, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo.
(1F) Afai, i le filifiliga o le fuainumera manaomia o tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U), e toalua (2) po o le sili atu foi o sui faatutu e tutusa le aofai o palota na maua, e tatau ona filifili le Sui Usufono faaopoopo e ala i le faia o se sei i luma o le Komesina o Faiga Palota i le auai ai o sui faatutu po o o latou sui faatagaina ma a itiiti mai e toalua (2) leoleo.
(1G) Afai e avea se sui faatu tamaitai ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo o se itumalo faaalaalafaga (e aunoa ma le amanaiaina o le filifilia o se sui faatu tamaitai i lea itumalo faaalaalafaga), e lē tatau ona avea se isi sui faatu tamaitai mai le itumalo faaalaalafaga lava lea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo seia vagana ai e le o i ai se isi sui faatu tamaitai mai se isi lava itumalo faaalaalafaga e atoa ai le fuainumera faatonuina manaomia.
…
(5) I totonu o lenei Mataupu, seia vagana ai ua manaomia e le mataupu se isi uiga e ese ai:
“Sui Usufono Faaopoopo” o lona uiga o se tamaitai o ia lea o se Sui Usufono o le Palemene e tusa ai o le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U) mo faamoemoega o le fuaiupu (1A);
“Fuainumera aupito maualuga o palota” o lona uiga o le pasene o le aofaiga atoa o palota aloaia a se itumalo faaalaalafaga na mauaina e se sui faatu tamaitai;
“Aofaiga faatonuina” o lona uiga o le fuainumera aupito i maualalo o Sui Usufono tamaitai o le Palemene ua faamaoti mai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1A). (Mataupu 44)
National level
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Assembly shall consist of not more than seventy-six members composed as follows –
(a) not more than sixty members elected from tinkhundla areas serving as constituencies;
(b) not more than ten members nominated by the King acting in his discretion after consultation with such bodies as the King may deem appropriate;
(c) four female members specially elected from the four Regions subject to subsection (3);
(d) the Attorney-General who shall be an ex officio member.
(2) The nominated members of the House shall be appointed by the King −
(a) so that at least half of them are female; and
(b) so as to represent interests, including marginalized groups, not already adequately represented in the House.
(3) The members elected on a regional basis, under subsection (1)(c), shall continue to be so elected, whenever the provisions of section 86 (1) are true, in terms of the following paragraphs −
(a) at the instance of the Chairman of the Elections and Boundaries Commission, the elected members from each Region shall on their first meeting nominate not less than three and not more than five women from each Region qualified to be members of Parliament;
(b) the list of nominated candidates shall be published in at least two local newspapers and the electronic media on at least three consecutive days; and
(c) after ten days from the date of last publication the House shall meet to vote for one woman from each of the Regions, taking into consideration any relevant in-put in terms of paragraph (b). (Sec. 95)11
National level
- English(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Article, there shall be the following categories of Members of Parliament, that is to say:-
(a) members elected to represent constituencies;
(b) women members being not less than thirty percentum of all the members mentioned in paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) with qualifications mentioned in Article 67 elected by the political parties in accordance with Article 78, on the basis of proportion of votes;
(c) five members elected by the House of Representatives from among its members;
(d) the Attorney General;
(e) not more than ten members appointed by the President from amongst persons with qualifications specified under paragraphs (a) and (c) of subarticle (1) of Article 67 and, at least five members amongst them shall be women; and
(f) the Speaker, if he is not elected from amongst the members.
… (Art. 66)
National level
- English(1) The Senate consists of—
…
(b) sixteen women members who shall be nominated by political parties according to their proportion of members of the Senate elected under clause (a) in accordance with Article 90;
(c) two members, being one man and one woman, representing the youth;
(d) two members, being one man and one woman, representing persons with disabilities;
… (Art. 98) - Swahili(1) Bunge la Seneti linajumuisha—
...
(b) wajumbe wanawake kumi na sita watakaoteuliwa na vyama vya siasa kulingana na idadi yao ya wajumbe wa Seneti waliochaguliwa chini ya ibara ya (a) kwa mujibu wa Kifungu cha 90;
(c) wajumbe wawili, mmoja akiwa mwanaume na mmoja mwanamke, wakiwawakilisha vijana;
(d) wajumbe wawili, mmoja akiwa mwanaume anayewakilisha watu wenye ulemavu;
… (Kifungu cha 98)
National level
- English(1) The State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwean society, and in particular—
…
(b) the State must take all measures, including legislative measures, needed to ensure that—
(i) both genders are equally represented in all institutions and agencies of government at every level; and
(ii) women constitute at least half the membership of all Commissions and other elective and appointed governmental bodies established by or under this Constitution or any Act of Parliament;
… (Sec. 17)
National level
- EnglishThe Senate is composed of:
1) Two delegates from each province, elected by an electoral college composed of members of the Communal Councils of the considered province, originating from different ethnic communities and elected by distinct ballots;
2) Three persons originating from the Twa ethnicity;
A minimum of 30% of women is assured. The electoral law determines the practical modalities of it, with co-optation the case arising. (Art. 185) - KirundiAbagize Inama nkenguzamateka ni aba:
1° abantu babiri baserukira intara imwe imwe batowe n’abaserukira abandi mu makomine agize iyo ntara bo mu moko adasa kandi badatorewe ku rutonde rumwe;
2° abantu batatu bo mu bwoko bw’abatwa;
Mu bagize Inama Nkenguzamateka hategerezwa kubamwo n’imiburiburi ibice 30% vy’abagore. Ibwirizwa rigenga amatora rirerekana ingene bigenda mukubishira mu ngiro bikenewe hakongerwako kugira ibitigiri bikwire. (Ingingo ya 185) - FrenchLe Sénat est composé de :
1° Deux délégués de chaque province, élus par un collège électoral composé de membres des Conseils communaux de la province considérée, provenant de communautés ethniques différentes et élus par des scrutins distincts;
2° Trois personnes issues de l’ethnie Twa;
Il est assuré un minimum de 30% de femmes. La loi électorale en détermine les modalités pratiques, avec cooptation le cas échéant. (Art. 185)
National level
- EnglishThe Senate is composed of twenty-six (26) Senators elected or appointed as follows:
1° twelve (12) Senators elected by specific electoral colleges in accordance with national administrative entities;
2° eight (8) Senators appointed by the President of the Republic, giving particular consideration to the principles of national unity, the representation of historically marginalised groups, and any other national interests;
3° four (4) Senators designated by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations;
4° one (1) academician or researcher from public universities and institutions of higher learning, holding at least the rank of Associate Professor, elected by the academic and research staff of the same universities and institutions;
5° one (1) academician or researcher from private universities and institutions of higher learning, holding at least the rank of Associate Professor, elected by the academic and research staff of the same universities and institutions.
…
The organs responsible for the nomination of Senators take into account national unity and the principle of gender equality.
At least thirty percent (30%) of elected and appointed Senators must be women.
… (Art. 80) - KinyarwandaSena igizwe n’Abasenateri makumyabiri na batandatu (26) batorwa cyangwa bashyirwaho ku buryo bukurikira:
1° cumi na babiri (12) batorwa n’inzego zihariye, hakurikijwe inzego z’imitegekere y’Igihugu;
2° umunani (8) bashyirwaho na Perezida wa Repubulika, by’umwihariko akita ku bumwe bw’Abanyarwanda, ku ihagararirwa ry’igice cy’Abanyarwanda amateka agaragaza ko basigaye inyuma no ku zindi nyungu rusange z’Igihugu;
3° bane (4) bashyirwaho n’Ihuriro ry’Igihugu Nyunguranabitekerezo ry’Imitwe ya Politiki ;
4° Umwarimu umwe (1) cyangwa umushakashatsi umwe (1) wo muri Kaminuza no mu Mashuri Makuru bya Leta uri ku rwego nibura rw’umwarimu wungirije utorwa n’abarimu n’abashakashatsi bo muri ibyo bigo;
5° umwarimu umwe (1) cyangwa umushakashatsi umwe (1) wo muri Kaminuza no mu Mashuri Makuru byigenga nibura uri ku rwego rw’umwarimu wungirije utorwa n’abarimu n’abashakashatsi bo muri ibyo bigo.
…
Inzego zishinzwe kugena abagomba kujya muri Sena zigomba kwita ku bumwe bw’Abanyarwanda n’ihame ry’uburinganire.
Nibura mirongo itatu ku ijana (30%) by’Abasenateri batorwa n’Abasenateri bashyirwaho bagomba kuba ari ab’igitsina gore.
… (Ingingo ya 80) - FrenchLe Sénat est composé de vingt-six (26) Sénateurs élus ou désignés comme suit :
1° douze (12) Sénateurs élus par des collèges électoraux spécifiques, en fonction des entités administratives du pays;
2° huit (8) Sénateurs nommés par le Président de la République, tenant compte en particulier à l’unité nationale, la représentation des groupes historiquement marginalisés et aux autres intérêts nationaux;
3° quatre (4) Sénateurs nommés par le Forum National de Concertation des Formations Politiques ;
4° un (1) enseignant ou chercheur issu des universités et institutions d’enseignement supérieur publiques ayant au moins le grade académique de Professeur Associé, élu par le corps académique et de recherche de ces universités et institutions;
5° un (1) enseignant ou chercheur issu des universités et institutions d’enseignement supérieur privées ayant au moins le grade académique de Professeur Associé, élu par le corps académique et de recherche de ces universités et institutions.
…
Les organes chargés de désigner les Sénateurs sont tenus de prendre en considération l’unité nationale et le principe d’égalité entre hommes et femmes.
Au moins trente pourcent (30%) des Sénateurs élus et des Sénateurs nommés doivent être de sexe féminin.
… (Art. 80)
National level
- English
(1) The members of the National Assembly shall, within fifteen days of the date of holding of its first meeting, elect the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly from amongst themselves.
(2) Election pursuant to clause (1) shall be so held that there is one woman out of the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly.
… (Art. 92) - Nepali
(१) राष्ट्रिय सभाको पहिलो बैठक प्रारम्भ भएको मितिले पन्ध्र दिनभित्र राष्ट्रिय सभाका सदस्यहरूले आफूमध्येबाट राष्ट्रिय सभाको अध्यक्ष र उपाध्यक्षको निर्वाचन गर्नेछन् ।
(२) उपधारा (१) मोजिम निर्वाचन गर्दा राष्ट्रिय सभाको अध्यक्ष र उपाध्यक्ष मध्ये एक जना महिला हुने गरी गर्नु पर्नेछ ।
... (धारा ९२)
National level
- English(1) Subject to this section, the Parliament is a single-chamber legislature, consisting of-
(a) a number of members elected from single-member open electorates; and
(b) a number of members elected from single-member provincial electorates; and
(c) not more than three nominated members, appointed and holding office in accordance with Section 102 (nominated members); and
(d) a number of women elected from a single-member women's electorates as defined under an Organic Law.
… (Sec. 101)
National level
- English(1) The Senate shall consist of not more than thirty-one members (in this Constitution referred to as “Senators”) who shall be elected or appointed in accordance with this section.(2) Ten Senators, at least half of whom shall be female, shall be elected by the members of the House in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law at their first meeting so as to represent a cross-section of the Eswatini society.(3) Twenty Senators, at least eight of whom shall be female, shall be appointed by the King acting in his discretion after consultation with such bodies as the King may deem appropriate.(4) The Senators appointed in terms of subsection (3) shall be persons who, in the opinion of the King –(a) are able by reason of their special knowledge or practical experience to represent economic, social, cultural/traditional or marginalized interests not already adequately represented in Parliament; or(b) are by reason of their particular merit, able to contribute substantially to the good government and progressive development of Eswatini. (Sec. 94)