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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 principle of the quota of at least thirty percent (30%) of women is recognized at all levels of national life, notably in the public services. (Art. 17-1)
- FrenchLe principe du quota d’au moins trente pour cent (30%) de femmes est reconnu à tous les niveaux de la vie nationale, notamment dans les services publics. (Art. 17.1)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may make provision -
(a) …
(v) for the extraction from the lists and declaration of names of the candidates who have been elected, and for such provision for extraction to take into account the proportion that women form of the electorate;
…
(b) …
(iii) for the minimum number or proportion of female candidates on a party’s list and in all party’s lists taken together;
(iv) for the minimum number or proportion of female candidates on a party’s lists for geographical constituencies taken individually or together;
(v) for the maximum percentage or the number of geographical constituencies a party can contest in which its lists contain no female candidate.
… (Art. 160)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English...
A. This Constitution recognizes and guarantees the right of indigenous peoples and communities to self-determination and, consequently, to the autonomy to:
...
VII. Elect, in the municipalities with indigenous population, representatives to the ayuntamientos [local or town councils], observing the principle of parity of gender in accordance with the applicable norms.
The constitutions and laws of the federative entities recognize and regulate these rights in the municipalities, with the aim of strengthening the political participation and representation in accordance with their traditions and internal norms.
... (Art. 2) - Spanish...
A. Esta Constitución reconoce y garantiza el derecho de los pueblos y las comunidades indígenas a la libre determinación y, en consecuencia, a la autonomía para:
...
VII. Elegir, en los municipios con población indígena, representantes ante los ayuntamientos, observando el principio de paridad de género conforme a las normas aplicables.
Las constituciones y leyes de las entidades federativas reconocerán y regularán estos derechos en los municipios, con el propósito de fortalecer la participación y representación política de conformidad con sus tradiciones y normas internas.
... (Art. 2)
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)
- 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)
- EnglishThe State shall promote equality with respect to the representation of women and men in publicly appointed or elected office, in its executive and decision-making institutions, and political parties and movements. As for candidacies in multi-person elections, their participation shall be respected by rotation of power and sequencing.
The State shall adopt affirmative action measures to guarantee the participation of discriminated sectors. (Art. 65) - SpanishEl Estado promoverá la representación paritaria de mujeres y hombres en los cargos de nominación o designación de la función pública, en sus instancias de dirección y decisión, y en los partidos y movimientos políticos. En las candidaturas a las elecciones pluripersonales se respetará su participación alternada y secuencial.
El Estado adoptará medidas de acción afirmativa para garantizar la participación de los sectores discriminados. (Art. 65)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishI. The equal participation of men and women shall be guaranteed in the election of the members of the assembly.
… (Art. 147) - SpanishI. En la elección de asambleístas se garantizará la igual participación de hombres y mujeres.
… (Art. 147)
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)
- 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)