SEARCH DATABASE
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(1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. (Constitution Act 1982, Sec. 15) - French(1) La loi ne fait acception de personne et s’applique également à tous, et tous ont droit à la même protection et au même bénéfice de la loi, indépendamment de toute discrimination, notamment des discriminations fondées sur la race, l’origine nationale ou ethnique, la couleur, la religion, le sexe, l’âge ou les déficiences mentales ou physiques.
(2) Le paragraphe (1) n’a pas pour effet d’interdire les lois, programmes ou activités destinés à améliorer la situation d’individus ou de groupes défavorisés, notamment du fait de leur race, de leur origine nationale ou ethnique, de leur couleur, de leur religion, de leur sexe, de leur âge ou de leurs déficiences mentales ou physiques. (Loi constitutionnelle de 1982, Sec. 15)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe citizens, without distinction of gender [sexo], have the right to participate in public matters, directly or through their representatives, in the form determined by this Constitution and the laws.
The access of women to public functions shall be promoted. (Art. 117) - SpanishLos ciudadanos, sin distinción de sexo, tienen el derecho a participar en los asuntos públicos, directamente o por medio de sus representantes, en la forma que determine esta Constitución y las leyes.
Se promoverá el acceso de la mujer a las funciones públicas. (Art. 117)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
...
For the case of the functionaries elected by popular vote through closed lists proposed by the political parties under the principle of proportionality, Deputies before the National Assembly, Deputies to the Central American Parliament, Municipal Concejales [Aldermen], Regional Concejales, the lists of candidates must be composed of fifty percent of men and fifty percent of women, ordered in equitable form and presented [in] alternate form; the same ratio of gender must be maintained between proprietary members [proprietarios] and substitutes when they exist [donde los hubiere].
... (Art. 131) - Spanish
...
Para el caso de los funcionarios electos mediante el voto popular por listas cerradas propuestas por los partidos políticos bajo el principio de la proporcionalidad, Diputados ante la Asamblea Nacional, Diputados al Parlamento Centroamericano, Concejales Municipales, Consejales Regionales, las listas de candidatos deberán estar integrados por un cincuenta por ciento de hombres y un cincuenta por ciento de mujeres, ordenados de forma equitativa y presentados de forma alterna; igual relación de género deberán mantener entre propietarios y suplentes donde los hubiere.
… (Art. 131)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (7) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
3. In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions or affiliations, colour, creed, or sex 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 that are not accorded to persons of another such description.
4. Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as the law makes provision-
…
c. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that, 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. 14)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe requirements and procedures for designating public servants of the judiciary must involve a competitive merit-based examination, subject to challenge and social monitoring; parity between men and women shall be fostered.
… (Art. 176) - SpanishLos requisitos y procedimientos para designar servidoras y servidores judiciales deberán contemplar un concurso de oposición y méritos, impugnación y control social; se propenderá a la paridad entre mujeres y hombres.
… (Art. 176)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
…
The Constitutional Council is an entity whose sole purpose is to discuss and approve a proposed text for a new Constitution, in accordance with the procedure set forth in this section. Its members will be elected by popular vote, and their composition will be gender-balanced.
...
2. ... The list of a political party or electoral coalition must indicate the order of precedence that the candidates will have on the ballot for each senatorial constituency, starting with a woman and alternating subsequently between men and women. In each senatorial constituency, the lists or electoral coalitions must always declare an even number of candidates, consisting of an equal number of women and men.
...
3. The following rules shall be followed for the distribution and allocation of seats in the Constitutional Council:
a) The electoral system for the Constitutional Council shall aim to achieve equitable representation of women and men, understood as 25 women and 25 men.
... (Art. 144) - Spanish
...
El Consejo Constitucional es un órgano que tiene por único objeto discutir y aprobar una propuesta de texto de nueva Constitución, de acuerdo al procedimiento fijado en el presente epígrafe. Sus integrantes serán electos en votación popular y su conformación será paritaria.
...
2. ...
La lista de un partido político o pactos electorales deberán señalar el orden de precedencia que tendrán los candidatos en la cédula para cada circunscripción senatorial, comenzando por una mujer y alternándose, sucesivamente, éstas con hombres.
En cada circunscripción senatorial, las listas o pactos electorales deberán declarar siempre un número par de candidatos, integrados por el mismo número de mujeres y hombres.
...
3. Para la distribución y asignación de escaños del Consejo Constitucional se seguirán las siguientes reglas:
a) El sistema electoral para el Consejo Constitucional se orientará a conseguir una representación equitativa de mujeres y hombres, entendiéndose esto como 25 mujeres y 25 hombres.
... (Art. 144)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe Haitian people proclaim this Constitution:
…
To assure to women a representation in the instances of power and of decision which must conform to the equality of the sexes and to equity of gender. (Preamble) - FrenchLe Peuple Haïtien proclame la présente Constitution:
…
Pour assurer aux femmes une représentation dans les instances de pouvoir et de décision qui soit conforme à l’égalité des sexes et à l’équité de genre. (Préambule)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this article -
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and
(b) no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(2) In this article the expression ‘discriminatory’ means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their or their parents’ or guardians’ respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which other persons of the same or another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
(3) Paragraph (1)(a) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision -
…
(c) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding paragraph 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.
… (Art. 149)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English...
II. The Law shall determine the general criteria for the election of members of the departmental assemblies, taking into account population, territorial, cultural identity and linguistic representation when there are rural native indigenous minorities, and parity and alternation of gender. The Statutes of Autonomy shall define its application in accordance with the specific reality and conditions of its jurisdiction. (Art. 278) - Spanish...
II. La Ley determinará los criterios generales para la elección de asambleístas departamentales, tomando en cuenta representación poblacional, territorial, de identidad cultural y lingüística cuando son minorías indígena originario campesinas, y paridad y alternancia de género. Los Estatutos Autonómicos definirán su aplicación de acuerdo a la realidad y condiciones específicas de su jurisdicción. (Art. 278)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) Subject to subsections (4), (5) and (7), no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
(3) In this section the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, birth out of wedlock, political opinions or affiliations, colour, sex 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 that 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-
…
(d) whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be subjected to any disability or restriction or may be accorded any privilege or advantage that, 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. 15)