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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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Limitations and/or Derogations
Malawi
- English1. Save in so far as it may be authorized to do so by this Constitution, the National Assembly or any subordinate legislative authority shall not make any law, and the executive and the agencies of Government shall not take any action, which abolishes or abridges the rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter, and any law or action in contravention thereof shall, to the extent of the contravention, be invalid.
… (Sec. 46)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Sierra Leone
- EnglishWhereas every person in Sierra Leone is entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, has the right, whatever his race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following—
a. life, liberty, security of person, the enjoyment of property, and the protection of law;
b. freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association;
c. respect for private and family life, and
d. protection from deprivation of property without compensation;
the subsequent provisions of this Chapter3 shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to the aforesaid rights and freedoms, subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others, or the public interest. (Sec. 15)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Bahrain
- EnglishIt is impermissible to suspend any provision of this Constitution except during the proclamation of martial law, and within the limits prescribed by the law. It is not permissible under any circumstances to suspend the convening of the Consultative Council or the Chamber of Deputies during that period or to infringe upon the immunity of their members, or during the proclamation of a state of national safety. (Art. 123)
- Arabicلا يجوز تعطيل أي حكم من أحكام هذا الدستور إلا أثناء إعلان الأحكام العرفية، وذلك في الحدود التي يــبينها القانون. ولا يجوز بأي حال تعطيل انعقاد مجلس الشورى أو مجلس النواب أو المساس بحصانة أعضائه في تلك الأثناء، أو أثناء إعلان حالة السلامة الوطنية. (المادّة 123)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Portugal
- EnglishConstitutional revision laws must respect:
…
d) Citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees;
… (Art. 288) - PortugueseAs leis de revisão constitucional terão de respeitar:
…
d) Os direitos, liberdades e garantias dos cidadãos;
… (Art. 288)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Tanzania, United Republic of
- English(1) The human rights and freedoms, the principles of which are set out in this Constitution, shall not be exercised by a person in a manner that causes interference with or curtailment of the rights and freedoms of other persons or of the public interest.
(2) It is hereby declared that the provisions contained in this Part4 of this Constitution which set out the principles of rights, freedom and duties, does not render unlawful any existing law or prohibit the enactment of any law or the doing of any lawful act in accordance with such law for the purposes of
(a) ensuring that the rights and freedoms of other people or of the interests of the public are not prejudiced by the wrongful exercise of the freedoms and rights of individuals;
(b) ensuring the defence, public safety, public peace, public morality, public health, rural and urban development planning, the exploitation and utilization of minerals or the increase and development of property of any other interests for the purposes of enhancing the public benefit;
(c) ensuring the execution of a judgment or order of a court given or made in any civil or criminal matter;
(d) protecting the reputation, rights and freedoms of others or the privacy of persons involved in any court proceedings, prohibiting the disclosure of confidential information or safeguarding the dignity, authority and independence of the courts;
(e) imposing restrictions, supervising and controlling the formation, management and activities of private societies and organizations in the country; or
(f) enabling any other thing to be done which promotes or preserves the national interest in general.
… (Art. 30)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Indonesia
- English(1) The rights to life, freedom from torture, freedom of thought and conscience, freedom of religion, freedom from enslavement, recognition as a person before the law, and the right not to be tried under a law with retrospective effect are all human rights that cannot be limited under any circumstances.
… (Art. 28I) - Indonesian(1) Hak untuk hidup, hak untuk tidak disiksa, hak kemerdekaan pikiran dan hati nurani, hak beragama, hak untuk tidak diperbudak, hak untuk diakui sebagai pribadi di hadapan hukum, dan hak untuk tidak dituntut atas dasar hukum yang berlaku surut adalah hak asasi manusia yang tidak dapat dikurangi dalam keadaan apa pun.
… (Pasal 28I)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Spain
- English(1) The rights recognized in sections 17, 18, subsections 2 and 3, sections 19, sections 21, 28, subsection 2, and section 37, subsection 2, may be suspended when a state of emergency or siege (martial law) is declared under the terms provided in the Constitution. Subsection 3 of section 17 is excepted from the foregoing provisions in the event of the declaration of a state of emergency.
(2) An organic act may determine the manner and the circumstances in which, on an individual basis and with the necessary participation of the courts and proper parliamentary control, the rights recognized in section 17, subsection 2, and 18, subsections 2 and 3, may be suspended for specific persons in connection with investigations of the activities of armed bands or terrorist groups.
Unwarranted or abusive use of the powers recognized in the foregoing organic act shall give rise to criminal liability as a violation of the rights and freedoms recognized by the laws. 20, subsection 1, paragraphs a) and d), and subsection 5. (Sec. 55) - Spanish1. Los derechos reconocidos en los artículos 17, 18, apartados 2 y 3, artículos 19, 20, apartados 1 a) y d), y 5, artículos 21, 28, apartado 2, y artículo 37, apartado 2, podrán ser suspendidos cuando se acuerde la declaración del estado de excepción o de sitio en los términos previstos en la Constitución. Se exceptúa de lo establecido anteriormente el apartado 3 del artículo 17 para el supuesto de declaración de estado de excepción.
2. Una ley orgánica podrá determinar la forma y los casos en los que, de forma individual y con la necesaria intervención judicial y el adecuado control parlamentario, los derechos reconocidos en los artículos 17, apartado 2, y 18, apartados 2 y 3, pueden ser suspendidos para personas determinadas, en relación con las investigaciones correspondientes a la actuación de bandas armadas o elementos terroristas.
La utilización injustificada o abusiva de las facultades reconocidas en dicha ley orgánica producirá responsabilidad penal, como violación de los derechos y libertades reconocidos por las leyes. (Art. 55)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Antigua and Barbuda
- EnglishExcept as is otherwise expressly provided in this Constitution, no law may abrogate, abridge or infringe or authorise the abrogation, abridgement or infringement of any of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual herein before recognised and declared. (Sec. 19)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Bahamas
- English1. This Article applies to any period when-
a. The Bahamas is at war; or
b. there is in force a proclamation (in this section referred to as a "proclamation of emergency") made by the Governor-General and published in the Gazette declaring that a state of public emergency exists for the purposes of this section.
2. Nothing contained in or done under that authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of Article 19, any provision of Article 20 other than paragraph (4) thereof, or any provision of Article 21 to 26 (inclusive) of this Constitution to the extent that the law in Question makes in relation to any period to which this Article applies provision, or authorizes the doing during any such period of anything, which is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances of any situation or existing during that period for the purpose of dealing with that situation.
… (Art. 29)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Malaysia
- English(1) If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency making therein a declaration to that effect.
…
(5) Subject to Clause (6a), while a Proclamation of Emergency is in force, Parliament may, notwithstanding anything in this Constitution make laws with respect to any matter, if it appears to Parliament that the law is required by reason of the emergency; and Article 79 shall not apply to a Bill for such a law or an amendment to such a Bill, nor shall any provision of this Constitution or of any written law which requires any consent or concurrence to the passing of a law or any consultation with respect thereto, or which restricts the coming into force of a law after it is passed or the presentation of a Bill to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for his assent.
(6) Subject to Clause (6a), no provision of any ordinance promulgated under this Article, and no provision of any Act of Parliament which is passed while a Proclamation of Emergency is in force and which declares that the law appears to Parliament to be required by reason of the emergency, shall be invalid on the ground of inconsistency with any provision of this Constitution.
(6a) Clause (5) shall not extend the powers of Parliament with respect to any matter of Islamic law or the custom of the Malays, or with respect to any matter of native law or customs in the State of Sabah or Sarawak; nor shall Clause (6) validate any provision inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution relating to any such matter or relating to religion, citizenship, or language.
… (Art. 150) - Malay(1) Jika Yang di-Pertuan Agong berpuas hati bahawa suatu darurat besar sedang berlaku yang menyebabkan keselamatan, atau kehidupan ekonomi, atau ketenteraman awam di dalam Persekutuan atau mana-mana bahagiannya terancam, maka Yang di-Pertuan Agong boleh mengeluarkan suatu Proklamasi Darurat dengan membuat dalamnya suatu perisytiharan yang bermaksud sedemikian.
…
(5) Tertakluk kepada Fasal (6A), semasa Proklamasi Darurat berkuat kuasa, Parlimen boleh, walau apa pun apa-apa jua dalam Perlembagaan ini, membuat undang-undang mengenai apa-apa perkara, jika didapati oleh Parlimen bahawa undang-undang itu dikehendaki oleh sebab darurat itu; dan Perkara 79 tidaklah terpakai bagi suatu Rang Undang-Undang untuk sesuatu undang-undang yang sedemikian atau bagi sesuatu pindaan kepada sesuatu Rang Undang-Undang yang sedemikian, dan juga tidaklah terpakai mana-mana peruntukan Perlembagaan ini atau peruntukan mana-mana undang-undang bertulis yang menghendaki apa-apa keizinan atau persetujuan bagi meluluskan sesuatu undang-undang atau apa-apa rundingan mengenainya atau yang menyekat permulaan kuat kuasa sesuatu undang-undang selepas undang-undang itu diluluskan atau yang menyekat Rang Undang-Undang daripada dipersembahkan kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong untuk diperkenankan olehnya.
(6) Tertakluk kepada Fasal (6A), tiada peruntukan mana-mana ordinan yang dimasyhurkan di bawah Perkara ini, dan tiada peruntukan mana-mana Akta Parlimen yang diluluskan semasa Proklamasi Darurat berkuat kuasa dan yang mengisytiharkan bahawa didapati oleh Parlimen undang-undang itu dikehendaki oleh sebab darurat, boleh menjadi tidak sah atas alasan ketidakselarasan dengan mana-mana peruntukan Perlembagaan ini.
(6A) Fasal (5) tidak boleh memperluas kuasa Parlimen mengenai apa-apa perkara hukum Syarak atau adat Melayu atau mengenai apa-apa perkara undang-undang atau adat anak negeri di Negeri Sabah atau Sarawak; dan juga Fasal (6) tidak boleh menjadikan sah mana-mana peruntukan yang tidak selaras dengan peruntukan Perlembagaan ini yang berhubungan dengan apa-apa perkara sedemikian atau berhubungan dengan agama, kewarganegaraan, atau bahasa.
… (Perkara 150)