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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)
- EnglishWomen and men have equal rights and responsibilities in the economic, political, cultural, occupational, social, and familial domains, as well as in any other domain. The State guarantees that both will be offered the same opportunities and possibilities.
The State encourages the holistic development of women and their full social participation. It ensures the exercise of their sexual and reproductive rights, protects them from gender-based violence in all of its forms and in all spaces, and creates the institutional and legal mechanisms to do so. (Art. 43) - SpanishLa mujer y el hombre tienen iguales derechos y responsabilidades en lo económico, político, cultural, laboral, social, familiar y en cualquier otro ámbito. El Estado garantiza que se ofrezcan a ambos las mismas oportunidades y posibilidades.
El Estado propicia el desarrollo integral de las mujeres y su plena participación social. Asegura el ejercicio de sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos, las protege de la violencia de género en cualquiera de sus manifestaciones y espacios, y crea los mecanismos institucionales y legales para ello. (Art. 43)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 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(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections 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.
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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, place of origin, political opinions, 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 which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
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(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 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. 13)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The unconditional equality of all Nicaraguans in the enjoyment of political rights[,] is established; in the exercise of them and in the fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities, [there] exists absolute equality between the man and the woman.
It is the obligation of the State to eliminate the obstacles that impede the actuality [hecho] of equality among Nicaraguans and their effective participation in the political, economic and social life of the country. (Art. 48) - Spanish
Se establece la igualdad incondicional de todos los nicaragüenses en el goce de sus derechos políticos; en el ejercicio de los mismos y en el cumplimiento de sus deberes y responsabilidades, existe igualdad absoluta entre el hombre y la mujer.
Es obligación del Estado eliminar los obstáculos que impidan de hecho la igualdad entre los nicaragüenses y su participación efectiva en la vida política, económica y social del país. (Art. 48)
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:
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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:
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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)
- 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)
- EnglishPositive actions referred to in the last paragraph of Section 37 shall not comprise less guarantees than those in force at the time this Constitution was approved, and their duration shall be determined by law. (Referring to Section 37) (Second Temporary Provision)
- SpanishLas acciones positivas a que alude el art. 37 en su último párrafo no podrán ser inferiores a las vigentes al tiempo de sancionarse esta Constitución y durarán lo que la ley determine (corresponde al art. 37). (Disposición transitoria segunda)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
The authorities will guarantee the adequate and effective participation of women in the decision-making levels of the Public Administration. (Art. 40) - Spanish…
Las autoridades garantizarán la adecuada y efectiva participación de la mujer en los niveles decisorios de la Administración Pública. (Art. 40)