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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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- English(1) Subject to this Constitution, all citizens have the same rights, privileges, obligations and duties irrespective of race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, religion or sex.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the making of laws for the special benefit, welfare, protection or advancement of females, children and young persons, members of under-privileged or less advanced groups or residents of less advanced areas.
(3) Subsection (1) does not affect the operation of a pre-Independence law. (Sec. 55)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English
(1) For the purposes of this Act, the prohibited grounds of discrimination are—
(a) sex, which includes pregnancy and childbirth;
(b) marital status, which means being—
(i) single; or
(ii) married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship; or
(iii) the surviving spouse of a marriage or the surviving partner of a civil union or de facto relationship; or
(iv) separated from a spouse or civil union partner; or
(v) a party to a marriage or civil union that is now dissolved, or to a de facto relationship that is now ended:
(c) religious belief:
(d) ethical belief, which means the lack of a religious belief, whether in respect of a particular religion or religions or all religions:
(e) colour:
(f) race:
(g) ethnic or national origins, which includes nationality or citizenship:
(h) disability, which means—
(i) physical disability or impairment:
(ii) physical illness:
(iii) psychiatric illness:
(iv) intellectual or psychological disability or impairment:
(v) any other loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function:
(vi) reliance on a disability assist dog, wheelchair, or other remedial means:
(vii) the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing illness:
(i) age, which means,—
(i) for the purposes of sections 22 to 41 and section 70 and in relation to any different treatment based on age that occurs in the period beginning with 1 February 1994 and ending with the close of 31 January 1999, any age commencing with the age of 16 years and ending with the date on which persons of the age of the person whose age is in issue qualify for national superannuation under section 7 of the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 (irrespective of whether or not the particular person qualifies for national superannuation at that age or any other age):
(ii) for the purposes of sections 22 to 41 and section 70 and in relation to any different treatment based on age that occurs on or after 1 February 1999, any age commencing with the age of 16 years:
(iii) for the purposes of any other provision of Part 2, any age commencing with the age of 16 years:
(j) political opinion, which includes the lack of a particular political opinion or any political opinion:
(k) employment status, which means—
(i) being unemployed; or
(ii) being a recipient of a benefit as defined in Schedule 2 of the Social Security Act 2018 or an entitlement under the Accident Compensation Act 2001:
(l) family status, which means—
(i) having the responsibility for part-time care or full-time care of children or other dependants; or
(ii) having no responsibility for the care of children or other dependants; or
(iii) being married to, or being in a civil union or de facto relationship with, a particular person; or
(iv) being a relative of a particular person:
(m) sexual orientation, which means a heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation.
(2) Each of the grounds specified in subsection (1) is a prohibited ground of discrimination, for the purposes of this Act, if—
(a) it pertains to a person or to a relative or associate of a person; and
(b) it either—
(i) currently exists or has in the past existed; or
(ii) is suspected or assumed or believed to exist or to have existed by the person alleged to have discriminated. (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 21)
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) Anything done or omitted which would otherwise constitute a breach of any of the provisions of this Part shall not constitute such a breach if—
(a) it is done or omitted in good faith for the purpose of assisting or advancing persons or groups of persons, being in each case persons against whom discrimination is unlawful by virtue of this Part; and
(b) those persons or groups need or may reasonably be supposed to need assistance or advancement in order to achieve an equal place with other members of the community.
… (Human Rights Act 1993, Sec. 73)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- EnglishWhereas every person in Kiribati is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely-
a. life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
… (Sec. 3)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) Every person is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection, treatment and benefit of the law.
(2) Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms recognised in this Chapter or any other written law.
(3) A person must not be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly on the grounds of his or her—
(a) actual or supposed personal characteristics or circumstances, including race, culture, ethnic or social origin, colour, place of origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, birth, primary language, economic or social or health status, disability, age, religion, conscience, marital status or pregnancy;
(b) opinions or beliefs, except to the extent that those opinions or beliefs involve harm to others or the diminution of the rights or freedoms of others, or on any other ground prohibited by this Constitution.
(4) A law or an administrative action taken under a law may not directly orindirectly impose a limitation or restriction on any person on a prohibited ground.
(5) Every person has the right of access, membership or admission, without discrimination on a prohibited ground, to shops, hotels, lodging-houses, public restaurants, places of public entertainment, clubs, education institutions, public transportation services, taxis and public places.
(6) The proprietor of a place or service referred to in subsection (5) must facilitate reasonable access for persons with disabilities to the extent prescribed by law.
(7) Treating one person differently from another on any of the grounds prescribed under subsection (3) is discrimination, unless it can be established that the difference in treatment is not unfair in the circumstances.
(8) A law, or an administrative action taken under a law, is not inconsistent with the rights mentioned in this section on the ground that it—
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(e) makes provision with respect to adoption, marriage, devolution of property on death, and pension;
(f) excludes persons from holding certain public offices; or
(g) to the extent necessary and without infringing the rights or freedoms set out in any other section of this Chapter, gives effect to the communal ownership of iTaukei, Rotuman and Banaban lands and access to marine resources, or the bestowing of iTaukei, Rotuman and Banaban chiefly title or rank. (Sec. 26) - iTaukei(1) Na tamata yadua e tu vua na dodonu me qaravi vakatautauvata ena mata ni lawa.
(2) Na dodonu ni tamata me qaravi vakatautauvata ena mata ni lawa e okati kina na kena vakayagataki vakatautauvata na dodonu kei na galala e virikotori ena Wase qo se na dua tale na lawa tabaki.
(3) Na veivakaduiduitaki e vakatabui vakalawa kevaka e yaco vua e dua na tamata ena vuku ni—
(a) nona ivakarau se kena ituvaki, oka kina na veimatatamata e lewena, nona itovo vakavanua, kawatamata, kuliniyago, na nona yavutu, kevaka e yalewa se tagane, kevaka e tagane, na nona digitaka me vinakata na tagane, kevaka e yalewa, na nona digitaka me vinakata na yalewa, se nona digitaka me vinakata ruarua na yalewa kei na tagane, nomu digitaka se vakaraitaka mo bulataka na bula vakatagane se bula vakayalewa, kevaka e gone susu se sucu ena daku ni vakamau, vosanisucu, ituvaki ni bula se bula vakailavo, vakaleqai vakayago, yabaki ni bula, nomu vakabauta, lewa e loma, vakawati se sega, se kevaka e bukete;
(b) nomu vakasama se vakabauta, vakavo kevaka na vakasama se vakabauta qo e vakamavoataka tale e so na tamata se na kena vakalailaitaka na nona dodonu se galala tale e so, se ena dua tale na tikina e vakatabui ena Yavunivakavulewa qo.
(4) Na lawa se dua na vakatulewa e vakayacori ena dua na lawa ena sega ni rawa ni vakayagataka na yavu e vakamacalataki ena wasetiki (3) me yalana na nona dodonu e dua.
(5) Na tamata yadua e tu vua na dodonu me lewena se curuma na sitoa, otela, valenikana, vanua ni veivakamarautaki, valenidanisi, tabana ni vuli, lori ni veivakaleleci, teksi, kei na vanua dola raraba, ka me kua ni vakaduiduitaki ena dua na yavu e virikotori ena wasetiki (3).
(6) Na itaukei ni vanua dola raraba se itaukei ni vanua ni veiqaravi me vaka e vakamacalataki ena wasetiki (5) me vakarautaka e so na gaunisala me vakarawarawataka na veitosoyaki vei ira na vakaleqai vakayago me vaka e virikotori ena lawa.
(7) Ni sega ni tautauvata na nodrau qaravi e rua na tamata ena vuku ni dua na tikina e vakatabui ena wasetiki (3), ya sa wili me veivakaduiduitaki, vakavo ke rawa ni vakadeitaki ni na veivakaduiduitaki ya e ganita na vanua e vakayacori kina.
(8) Na lawa se na vakatulewa e vakayacori ena dua na lawa tabaki, e sega ni veicoqacoqa kei na dodonu e virikotori ena tikina qo kevaka e—
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(e) vakarautaka na veika vakaivola me baleta na gone vakacabecabe, vakamau, dewa na taukeni ni iyau ena vuku ni mate kei na peniseni;
(f) vakatabui na tamata me taura na itutu ena so na valenivolavola ni lewenivanua; se
(g) me yalani ena gauna e gadrevi kina ka me kua ni veicoqacoqa kei na dodonu se na galala e virikotori ena dua na tikina ena Wase qo, e vakatara na kena taukeni vakavanua na kedra qele kei na nodra vakayagataka na iyaubula mai waitui o ira na iTaukei, Rotuma kei na Rabi se na ivakarau ni kena soli na itutu ni veiliutaki ni iTaukei, Rotuma kei na Rabi. (Sec. 26)