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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.
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Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Malawi
- EnglishThe State shall actively promote the welfare and development of the people of Malawi by progressively adopting and implementing policies and legislation aimed at achieving the following goals—
a. Gender Equality
To obtain gender equality through—
(i) full participation of women in all spheres of Malawian society on the basis of equal opportunities with men;
(ii) the implementation of the principles of nondiscrimination and such other measures as may be required;
… (Sec. 13)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Ghana
- English(1) All persons shall be equal before the law.
(2) A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.
(3) For the purposes of this article, "discriminate" means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, gender, occupation, religion or creed, whereby persons of one description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another description which are not granted of persons of another description are not made subject or are granted privileges or advantages which are not granted to persons of another description.
(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are reasonably necessary to provide-
(a) for the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational imbalance in the Ghanaian society;
...
(d) for making different provision for different communities having regard to their special circumstances not being provision which is inconsistent with the spirit of this Constitution.
... (Art. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- EnglishThe public powers see to the elimination of any form of discrimination concerning women and assure the protection and the promotion of their rights.
They take, in all the domains, notably in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural domains, all the measures appropriate to assure the total realization and full participation of women in the development of the Nation.
They take measures to struggle against all forms of violence made against women in public and in private life.
Women have the right to an equitable representation within the national, provincial and local institutions. The State guarantees the implementation of man-woman parity in these said institutions.
The law establishes the modalities of application of these rights. (Art. 14) - FrenchLes pouvoirs publics veillent à l’élimination de toute forme de discrimination à l’égard de la femme et assurent la protection et la promotion de ses droits.
Ils prennent, dans tous les domaines, notamment dans les domaines civil, politique, économique, social et culturel, toutes les mesures appropriées pour assurer le total épanouissement et la pleine participation de la femme au développement de la nation.
Ils prennent des mesures pour lutter contre toute forme de violences faites à la femme dans la vie publique et dans la vie privée.
La femme a droit à une représentation équitable au sein des institutions nationales, provinciales et locales.
L’Etat garantit la mise en oeuvre de la parité homme-femme dans lesdites institutions.
La loi fixe les modalités d’application de ces droits. (Art. 14)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Egypt
- EnglishThe State shall ensure the achievement of equality between women and men in all civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
The State shall take the necessary measures to ensure the appropriate representation of women in the houses of representatives, as specified by Law. The State shall also guarantee women’s right of holding public and senior management offices in the State and their appointment in judicial bodies and authorities without discrimination.
… (Art. 11) - Arabicتكفل الدّولة تحقيق المساواة بين المرأة والرجل فى جميع الحقوق المدنية والسياسية والاقتصاديّة والاجتماعيّة والثقافيّة وفقا لأحكام هذا الدّستور.
وتعمل الدّولة على اتخاذ التّدابير الكفيلة بضمان تمثيل المرأة تمثيلاً مناسبا فى المجالس النيابية، على النحو الذي يحدّده القانون، كما تكفل للمرأة حقّها فى تولّى الوظائف العامّة ووظائف الإدارة العليا فى الدّولة والتّعيين فى الجهات والهيئات القضائية، دون تمييز ضدّها.
... (المادّة 11)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Comoros
- EnglishThe Government of the Union is composed in a manner to assure the just and equitable representation of the Islands and a just and equitable division between men and women. (Art. 61)
- Arabicتتألف حكومة الاتحاد بشكل يكفل التمثيل العادل والمتكافئ للجزر وتوزيعاً عادلاً ومنصفاً بين المرأة والرجل. (المادة 61)
- FrenchLe Gouvernement est composé de manière à assurer une représentation juste et équitable des Iles et une juste et équitable répartition entre les hommes et les femmes. (Art. 61)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Uganda
- English1. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, the State shall take affirmative action in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of gender, age, disability or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom, for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them.
2. Laws, cultures, customs and traditions which are against the dignity, welfare or interest of women or any other marginalised group to which clause (1) relates or which undermine their status, are prohibited by this Constitution.
…
5. Parliament shall make laws for the purpose of giving full effect to this article. (Art. 32)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
South Sudan
- English…
6. There shall be a substantial representation of women in the Judiciary having regard to competence, integrity, credibility and impartiality.
… (Art. 122)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Zimbabwe
- English(1) The State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwean society, and in particular—
(a) the State must promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality with men;
(b) the State must take all measures, including legislative measures, needed to ensure that—
(i) both genders are equally represented in all institutions and agencies of government at every level; and
(ii) women constitute at least half the membership of all Commissions and other elective and appointed governmental bodies established by or under this Constitution or any Act of Parliament;
(c) the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must take practical measures to ensure that women have access to resources, including land, on the basis of equality with men.
(2) The State must take positive measures to rectify gender discrimination and imbalances resulting from past practices and policies. (Sec. 17)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Tunisia
- EnglishThe state commits to protect women’s accrued rights and work to strengthen and develop those rights.
The state guarantees the equality of opportunities between women and men to have access to all levels of responsibility in all domains.
The state works to attain parity between women and men in elected Assemblies. … (Art. 46) - Arabicتلتزم الدّولة بـحماية الحقوق المكتسبة للمرأة وتعمل على دعمها وتطويرها.
تضمن الدّولة تكافؤ الفرص بين الرّجل والمرأة في تحمّل مختلف المسؤوليات وفي جميع المجالات.
تسعى الدّولة إلى تحقيق التّناصف بين المرأة والرّجل في المجالس المنتخبة. ... (الفصل 46) - FrenchL’État s’engage à protéger les droits acquis de la femme et veille à les consolider et les promouvoir.
L’État garantit l’égalité des chances entre l’homme et la femme pour l’accès aux diverses responsabilités et dans tous les domaines.
L’État s’emploie à consacrer la parité entre la femme et l’homme dans les assemblées élues.
… (Art. 46)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
Lesotho
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) 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, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status 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) shall not apply to any law to the extent that that law makes provision—
…
e. whereby persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) may be made subject 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.
Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the making of laws in pursuance of the principle of State Policy of promoting a society based on equality and justice for all the citizens of Lesotho and thereby removing any discriminatory law.
... (Sec. 18)