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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)
- 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)
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The law favors the equal access of women and of men to the electoral mandates and elective functions. (Art. 3) - Arabic
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يحبذ القانون الوصول المتكافي للمرأة والرجل إلى الولايات والوظائف الانتخابية. (المادّة 3) - French
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La loi favorise l’égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux et fonctions électives. (Art. 3)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
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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
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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. 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)
- 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)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe National and state governments shall have legislative and executive competences on any of the matters listed below:
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18. Empowerment of women;
19. Gender policy;
… (Schedule (C): Concurrent Powers)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
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The public powers work for the creation of the conditions permitting the effectiveness of liberty and of the equality of citizens to be made general [généraliser], as well as their participation in political, economic, cultural and social life.
… (Art. 6) - Arabic…
تعمل السّلطات العمومية على توفير الظروف التي تمكّن من تعميم الطّابع الفعلي لحرية المواطنات والمواطنين، والمساواة بينهم، ومن مشاركتهم في الحياة السياسيّة والاقتصاديّة والثقافيّة والاجتماعيّة.
… (الفصل 6)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), (5), and (7), no law shall make provision which 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, tribe, sex, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed 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 so far as that law makes provision—
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g. whereby persons of any such description as mentioned in subsection (3) may be subjected 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;
… (Sec. 27)