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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
South Africa
- English(1) The rights in the Bill of Rights may be limited only in terms of law of general application to the extent that the limitation is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, taking into account all relevant factors, including—
(a) the nature of the right;
(b) the importance of the purpose of the limitation;
(c) the nature and extent of the limitation;
(d) the relation between the limitation and its purpose; and
(e) less restrictive means to achieve the purpose.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) or in any other provision of the Constitution, no law may limit any right entrenched in the Bill of Rights. (Sec. 36)
Limitations and/or Derogations
China
- EnglishThe exercise by citizens of the People's Republic of China of their freedoms and rights may not infringe upon the interests of the state, of society and of the collective, or upon the lawful freedoms and rights of other citizens. (Art. 51)
- Chinese中华人民共和国公民在行使自由和权利的时候,不得损害国家的、社会的、集体的利益和其他公民的合法的自由和权利。(第五十一条)
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
Zambia
- EnglishIt is recognised and declared that every person in Zambia has been and shall continue to be 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, sex or marital status, but subject to the limitations contained in this Part7, to each and all of the following, namely:
a. life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law;
b. freedom of conscience, expression, assembly, movement and association;
c. protection of young persons from exploitation;
d. protection for the privacy of his home and other property and from deprivation of property without compensation;
and the provisions of this Part shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to those rights and freedoms subject to such limitations of that protection as are contained in this Part, 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. (Art. 11)
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
Belize
- EnglishWhereas every person in Belize 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 and for the public interest,
...
the provisions of this Part3 shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to those 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 person does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest. (Sec. 3)
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)
Limitations and/or Derogations
Marshall Islands
- EnglishThe enumeration in this Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. (Art. II, Sec. 17)