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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)
- 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.
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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, 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—
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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)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The law establishes the rules concerning:
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- the promotion of gender;
… (Art. 101) - French
La loi fixe les règles concernant:
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- la promotion du genre;
… (Art. 101)
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(1) 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.
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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 sex, 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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(d) 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.
… (Sec. 16)
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)
- English
(1) In this section, discrimination refers to the treatment of different people in different ways wholly or mainly because of their different —
(a) races; or
(b) places of origin; or
(c) political opinions; or
(d) colours; or
(e) religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs, or
(f) disability; or
(g) sex
in such a way that one such person is for some such reason given more favourable treatment or less favourable treatment than another such person.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Part, and in particular to —
(a) the succeeding provisions of this section;
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no-one shall be treated in a discriminatory manner.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a law so far as it makes provision —
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(f) by which any person or group may be given favourable treatment or unfavourable treatment which, having regard to the nature of the treatment and to any special circumstances of the person or group, is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society having a proper respect for human rights and dignity.
... (Sec. 27)
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)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe State shall ensure gender balance and fair representation of marginalised groups on all constitutional and other bodies. (National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, VI)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishAll the citizens of majority, enjoying their civil and political rights[,] are electors and eligible. The law provides [prévoit] the provisions of [a] nature encouraging the equal access of women and men to the elective functions.
… (Art. 30) - Arabicلكل مواطنة و مواطن، الحق في التصويت، وفي الترشح للانتخابات، شرط بلوغ سن الرشد القانونية، والتمتع بالحقوق المدنية والسياسية. وينص القانون على مقتضيات من شأنها تشجيع تكافؤ الفرص بين النساء والرجال في ولوج الوظائف الانتخابية.
… (الفصل30)
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)