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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.
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) All persons are equal under the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the laws.
(2) No law and no executive or judicial action shall, either expressly, or in its practical application, discriminate against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, place of birth, family status or descent.
(3) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to preclude non-arbitrary preferences for citizens pursuant to law. (Art. II, Sec. 12)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) It shall be unlawful for any person who supplies goods, facilities, or services to the public or to any section of the public—
(a) to refuse or fail on demand to provide any other person with those goods, facilities, or services; or
(b) to treat any other person less favourably in connection with the provision of those goods, facilities, or services than would otherwise be the case,—by reason of any of the prohibited grounds of discrimination.
… (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 44)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4), (5) and (8) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
2. Subject to the provisions of subsections (6), (7) and (8) of this section, 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.
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 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) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
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c. for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;d. with respect to land, the tenure of land, the resumption and acquisition of land and other like purposes; or
e. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection 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.
5. Nothing contained in any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of subsection (1) of this section to the extent that it makes provision with respect to standards or qualifications (not being standards or qualifications specifically relating to race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed) to be required of any person who is appointed to any office in the public service, any office in a disciplined force, any office in the service of a local government council or any office in a body corporate established directly by any law for public purposes.
6. Subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to anything which is expressly or by necessary implication authorized to be done by any such provision of law as is referred to in subsection (4) or (5) of this section.
7. Subsection (2) of this section shall not affect any discretion relating to the institution, conduct or discontinuance of civil or criminal proceedings in any court that is vested in any person by or under this Constitution or any other law.
8. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) of this section may be subjected to any restriction on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by sections 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of this Constitution, being such a restriction as is authorized by section 9 (2), 11 (6), 12 (2), 13 (2) or 14 (3), as the case may be.
9. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with the provisions of this section-
a. if that law was in force immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution and has continued in force at all times since the coming into operation of this Constitution; or
b. to the extent that the law repeals and re-enacts any provision which has been contained in any enactment at all times since immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution. (Sec. 15)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English1. The Republic of Vanuatu recognises, that, subject to any restrictions imposed by law on non-citizens and holders of dual citizenship who are not indigenous or naturalised citizens, all persons are entitled to the following fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual without discrimination on the grounds of race, place of origin, religious or traditional beliefs, political opinions, language or sex but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and to the legitimate public interest in defence, safety, public order, welfare and health-
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d. protection of the law;
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k. equal treatment under the law or administrative action, except that no law shall be inconsistent with this sub-paragraph insofar as it makes provision for the special benefit, welfare, protection or advancement of females, children and young persons, members of under-privileged groups or inhabitants of less developed areas.
… (Art. 5) - French1) Sous réserve des restrictions que la Loi peut imposer aux non-citoyens et aux détenteurs de la double nationalité qui ne sont pas indigènes ou citoyens naturalisés et dans le respect des droits et libertés d'autrui et de l'intérêt public légitime en matière de défense, de sécurité, d'ordre public, de prospérité et de santé, la République de Vanuatu reconnaît que toute personne, sans distinction de race, lieu d'origine, croyances religieuses ou traditionnelles, opinions politiques, langue ou sexe jouit des droits fondamentaux et les libertés individuelles suivants:
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d) la protection de la loi;
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k) un traitement égal devant la Loi ou l'action administrative, étant entendu qu'une loi ne contrevient pas aux dispositions du présent alinéa dans la mesure où elle prévoit des dispositions pour le bénéfice particulier, le bien-être, la protection ou l'amélioration des conditions des femmes, des enfants et des jeunes, des membres de catégories défavorisées, ou des habitants de zones moins développées.
... (Art. 5)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) Every person in Tuvalu is entitled, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, religious beliefs, disability, or lack of religious beliefs, or sex, to the following fundamental rights and freedoms: —
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(d) the protection of the law (see section 22);
… (Sec. 11)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWe the people of Solomon Islands, …
AGREE AND PLEDGE that –
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(b) we shall uphold the principles of equality, social justice and the equitable distribution of incomes;
… (Preamble)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishIn a Constitutional Law-
(a) words importing the masculine gender include females;
… (Schedule 1.8)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
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(5) In this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) words importing the masculine gender shall be taken to include females;
… (Art. 81)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of discrimination in the Human Rights Act 1993.
(2) Measures taken in good faith for the purpose of assisting or advancing persons or groups of persons disadvantaged because of discrimination that is unlawful by virtue of Part 26 of the Human Rights Act 1993 do not constitute discrimination. (Bill of Rights Act 1990, Sec. 19)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) The only provisions of this Part that apply to an act or omission of a person or body described in subsection (2) are—
(a) sections 21 to 35 (which relate to discrimination in employment matters), 61 to 64 (which relate to racial disharmony, sexual harassment, adverse treatment in employment of people affected by family violence, and racial harassment) and 66 (which relates to victimisation); and
(b) sections 65 and 67 to 74, but only to the extent that those sections relate to conduct that is unlawful under any of the provisions referred to in paragraph (a).
(2) The persons and bodies referred to in subsection (1) are the ones referred to in section 3 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, namely—
(a) the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government of New Zealand; and
(b) every person or body in the performance of any public function, power, or duty conferred or imposed on that person or body by or pursuant to law. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 21A)