SEARCH DATABASE
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)
- English(1) All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law.
(2) For the avoidance of any doubt, a person shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion, age or disability.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “discriminate” means to give different treatment to different persons attributable only or mainly to their respective descriptions by gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, birth, tribe, creed or religion, or social or economic standing, political opinion, age or disability.
(4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5) Parliament shall not be competent to enact a law that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
(5) Nothing in this section shall prevent Parliament from enacting laws that are necessary for implementing policies and programmes aimed at redressing social, economic or educational or other imbalances in society. (Sec. 20)
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.
...
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)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
…
The law favors the equal access of women and of men to the electoral mandates and elective functions. (Art. 3) - Arabic
…
يحبذ القانون الوصول المتكافي للمرأة والرجل إلى الولايات والوظائف الانتخابية. (المادّة 3) - French
…
La loi favorise l’égal accès des femmes et des hommes aux mandats électoraux et fonctions électives. (Art. 3)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English
The State works for the promotion of the political rights of women by encouraging their opportunities of access to representation in the elected assemblies.
The conditions of application of this provision are established by an organic law. (Art. 59) - Arabic
تعمل الدولة على ترقية الحقوق السياسية للمرأة بتوسيع حظوظ تمثيلها في المجالس المنتخبة
يحدد قانون عضوي شروط تطبيق هذا الحكم (المادة 59) - French
L'Etat œuvre à la promotion des droits politiques de la femme en encourageant ses chances d'accès à la représentation dans les assemblées élues.
Les conditions d'application de cette disposition sont fixées par une loi organique. (Art. 59)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- 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)
- English1. Women shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men.
…
5. Without prejudice to article 32 of this Constitution, women shall have the right to affirmative action for the purpose of redressing the imbalances created by history, tradition or custom. (Art. 33)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe National and state governments shall have legislative and executive competences on any of the matters listed below:
…
18. Empowerment of women;
19. Gender policy;
… (Schedule (C): Concurrent Powers)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe Superior Council of Communication is composed of fifteen (15) members as it follows:
- one (1) notable person [personnalité] proposed by the President of the Republic;
- one (1) notable person proposed by the President of the National Assembly;
- one (1) notable person proposed by the Prime Minister;
- three (3) representatives elected by the socio-professional organizations of the medias of the private sector including, at least, one woman;
- three (3) representatives elected by the trade-union [syndicales] organizations of workers of the medias of the public sector including [dont] a journalist, a producer and a technician with at least one woman;
- one (1) representative elected by the trade-union organizations of workers of the telecommunications sector;
- one (1) representative elected by the associations for the defense of the rights of man and promotion of democracy;
- one (1) representative elected by the collective of the women organizations;
- one (1) representative elected by the agencies and bureaus of communication and publicity;
- one (1) representative elected by the cultural creators;
- one (1) representative elected by the printers and publishers. (Art. 161) - FrenchLe Conseil supérieur de la communication est composé de quinze (15) membres ainsi qu’il suit :
- une (1) personnalité désignée par le Président de la République ;
- une (1) personnalité désignée par le président de l’Assemblée nationale ;
- une (1) personnalité désignée par le Premier ministre ;
- trois (3) représentants élus par les organisations socioprofessionnelles des médias du secteur privé dont, au moins, une femme ;
- trois (3) représentants élus par les organisations syndicales des travailleurs des médias du secteur public dont un journaliste, un producteur et un technicien dont, au moins, une femme ;
- un (1) représentant élu par les organisations syndicales des travailleurs du secteur des télécommunications ;
- un (1) représentant élu par les associations de défense des droits de l’Homme et de promotion de la démocratie ;
- une (1) représentante élue par les collectifs des organisations féminines ;
- un (1) représentant élu par les agences et bureaux de communication et publicité ;
- un (1) représentant élu par les créateurs culturels ;
- un (1) représentant élu par les imprimeurs et éditeurs. (Art. 161)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English…
The public powers work for the creation of the conditions permitting the effectiveness of liberty and of the equality of citizens to be made general [généraliser], as well as their participation in political, economic, cultural and social life.
… (Art. 6) - Arabic…
تعمل السّلطات العمومية على توفير الظروف التي تمكّن من تعميم الطّابع الفعلي لحرية المواطنات والمواطنين، والمساواة بينهم، ومن مشاركتهم في الحياة السياسيّة والاقتصاديّة والثقافيّة والاجتماعيّة.
… (الفصل 6)
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- EnglishThe political parties and the groupings of political parties legally recognized concur in the expression of suffrage. They form themselves and exercise their activity freely, within the framework established by the law, according to the principles of multipartism.
They contribute to the equal access of women, of men, of young [persons] and of the handicapped to the electoral mandates, within the conditions established by the law.
... (Art. 6) - FrenchLes partis politiques et les groupements de partis politiques légalement reconnus concourent à l'expression du suffrage. Ils se forment et exercent leur activité librement, dans le cadre fixé par la loi, selon les principes du multipartisme.
Ils contribuent à l'égal accès des femmes, des hommes, des jeunes et des handicapés aux mandats électoraux, dans les conditions fixées par la loi.
... (Art. 6)