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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.
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe woman has the same rights as the man.
The law guarantees parity and assures the promotion as well as the representativeness of women in all political, elective and administrative functions. (Art. 17) - FrenchLa femme a les mêmes droits que l’homme.
La loi garantit la parité et assure la promotion ainsi que la représentativité de la femme à toutes les fonctions politiques, électives et administratives. (Art. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English[The following] are of the domain of the law:
The rules concerning the following matters:
…
– parity [concerning] man and woman in the decision-making bodies [instance de prise de décisions];
… (Art. 80) - FrenchSont du domaine de la loi:
Les règles relatives aux matières suivantes:
…
- la parité homme et femme dans les instances de prises de décisions;
… (Art. 80)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) no law shall make any provision that 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, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status 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 to the extent that that law makes provision—
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e. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be made subject to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage which, having regard to its nature and to special circumstances pertaining to those persons or to persons of any other such description, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the making of laws in pursuance of the principle of State Policy of promoting a society based on equality and justice for all the citizens of Lesotho and thereby removing any discriminatory law.
... (Sec. 18)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The State works for the promotion of the political rights of women by increasing their chances of access to representation in the elected assemblies.
The modalities of application of this Article are established by the law. (Art. 36) - French
L’Etat œuvre à la promotion des droits politiques de la femme en augmentant ses chances d’accès à la représentation dans les assemblées élues.
Les modalités d’application de cet article sont fixées par la loi. (Art. 36)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
6. There shall be a substantial representation of women in the Judiciary having regard to competence, integrity, credibility and impartiality.
… (Art. 122)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(3) Members must be appointed or elected to the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders as soon as possible after the beginning of the first session of each Parliament, and they must be selected so that the committee reflects as nearly as possible the political and gender composition of the combined Houses of Parliament.
… (Sec. 151)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
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The man and the woman are equal in law. However, the law may establish special provisions for amelioration of the representation of the people by women.
… (Art. 26) - French
...
L'homme et la femme sont égaux en droit. Toutefois, la loi peut fixer des dispositions spéciales d’amélioration de la représentation du peuple par les femmes. ... (Art. 26)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law.
(2) For the avoidance of any doubt, a person shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion, age or disability.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, birth, tribe, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion, age or disability.
(4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5) Parliament shall not be competent to enact a law that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
(5) Nothing in this section shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are necessary for implementing policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational or other imbalances in society. (Sec. 20)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The State works for the promotion of the political rights of women by encouraging their opportunities of access to representation in the elected assemblies.
The conditions of application of this provision are established by an organic law. (Art. 59) - Arabic
تعمل الدولة على ترقية الحقوق السياسية للمرأة بتوسيع حظوظ تمثيلها في المجالس المنتخبة
يحدد قانون عضوي شروط تطبيق هذا الحكم (المادة 59) - French
L'Etat œuvre à la promotion des droits politiques de la femme en encourageant ses chances d'accès à la représentation dans les assemblées élues.
Les conditions d'application de cette disposition sont fixées par une loi organique. (Art. 59)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the State shall take affirmative action in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom, for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them.
2. Laws, cultures, customs and traditions which are against the dignity, welfare or interest of women or any other marginalised group to which clause (1) relates or which undermine their status, are prohibited by this Constitution.
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5. Parliament shall make laws for the purpose of giving full effect to this article. (Art. 32)