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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)
- 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(1) The State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwean society, and in particular—
(a) the State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men;
(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;
(c) the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must take practical measures to ensure that women have access to resources, including land, on the basis of equality with men.
(2) The State must take positive measures to rectify gender discrimination and imbalances resulting from past practices and policies. (Sec. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
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- RECOGNIZING that the promotion of gender is a factor for realization of the equality of law [droit] between men and women of Burkina Faso;
… (Preamble) - French
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RECONNAISSANT que la promotion du genre est un facteur de réalisation de l’égalité de droit entre hommes et femmes au Burkina Faso;
… (Préambule)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Where a person is empowered to make a nomination or an appointment to a public office, that person shall ensure—
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b. that fifty percent of each gender is nominated or appointed from the total available positions, unless it is not practicable to do so; ... (Art. 259)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(6) The State shall afford equality of economic opportunity to all citizens; and, in particular, the State shall take all necessary steps so as to ensure the full integration of women into the mainstream of the economic development of Ghana.
… (Art. 36)
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)
- English(1) Women have the right to equal treatment with men and that right shall include equal opportunities in political, economic and social activities.
(2) Subject to the availability of resources, the Government shall provide facilities and opportunities necessary to enhance the welfare of women to enable them to realise their full potential and advancement.
… (Sec. 28)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(2) Members of the Zimbabwe Land Commission must—
(a) be chosen for their integrity and competence in, and knowledge and understanding of, the best practices in land management and administration; and
(b) reflect the diversity of Zimbabwe’s population, in particular its regional interests and gender balance.
… (Sec. 296)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(5) Women must be included in all national institutions, in an effective way, in particular all elected and appointed positions across the three branches of government and in national independent commissions. (Art. 3) - Somali…
(5) Haweenku waa in ay ka mid noqdaan dhammaan hay’adaha guud ee qaranka, si wax-ku-ool ah, gaar ahaan jagooyinka la isu doorto iyo kuwa la isu magacaabo ee saddexda laamood ee Dawladda iyo Guddiyada Madaxbannaan ee Qaranka. (Qodobka 3aad.)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State shall ensure gender balance and fair representation of marginalised groups on all constitutional and other bodies. (National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, VI)