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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.
Women’s Rights
Guyana, English
(1) Every woman is entitled to equal rights and status with men in all spheres of political, economic and social life. All forms of discrimination against women on the basis of gender or sex are illegal.
(2) Every woman is entitled to equal access with men to academic, vocational and professional training, equal opportunities in employment, remuneration and promotion and in social, political and cultural activity. (Art. 149F)
Indigenous Peoples
Guyana, English
WE, THE GUYANESE PEOPLE,
… proclaim this Constitution in order to:
…
Celebrate our cultural and racial diversity and strengthen our unity by eliminating any and every form of discrimination;
Value the special place in our nation of the Indigenous Peoples and recognize their right as citizens to land and security and to their promulgation of policies for their communities;
… (Preamble)
Indigenous Peoples
Guyana, English
(1) Subject to the provisions of this article -
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and
(b) no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(2) In this article the expression ‘discriminatory’ means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their or their parents’ or guardians’ respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which other persons of the same or another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
…
(6) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision -
…
(c) for the protection, well-being or advancement of the Amerindians of Guyana.
… (Art. 149)
Indigenous Peoples
Guyana, English
(1) The Indigenous Peoples' Commission shall establish mechanisms to enhance the status of indigenous peoples and to respond to their legitimate demands and needs.
(2) The Indigenous Peoples’ Commission shall consist of persons of the categories referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) appointed by the President as follows -
(a) not more than ten members nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly, after the entities are determined by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly;
(b) three persons, at least one being a woman nominated by the Toushaos Council and two persons including one woman nominated by Amerindian organisations determined by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly; and
(c) a member who shall be a nominee, without the right to vote, chosen by and from each of the following Commissions: the Human Rights Commission, Ethnic Relations Commission, Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission. (Art. 212S)
Indigenous Peoples
Guyana, English
Indigenous peoples shall have the right to the protection, preservation and promulgation of their languages, cultural heritage and way of life. (Art. 149G)
Indigenous Peoples
Guyana, English
In addition to the functions specified in article 212J (2) the functions of the Indigenous Peoples' Commission are to
(a) promote and protect the rights of the indigenous peoples;
(b) raise awareness of the contribution of, and problems faced by, indigenous peoples;
(c) promote empowerment of the indigenous peoples, especially with regard to the village council in the local government system and the scope and authority of the Council of Toshaos;
(d) make recommendations on economic and education policies to advance the interest of the indigenous peoples;
(e) make recommendations for the protection, preservation and promulgation of the cultural heritage and language of the indigenous peoples;
(f) promote consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples especially with regard to their participation in national decision-making and other decisions that affect their lives;
(g) recommend and promote training and technical assistance to support initiative by and for indigenous peoples;
(h) educate employers and the public and make recommendations to improve employment practices related to indigenous peoples; and
(i) monitor the need for and recommend where appropriate the establishment of mechanisms to provide counselling for indigenous peoples. (Art. 212T)
Citizenship and Nationality
Guyana, English
Every person, who immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, is a citizen of Guyana shall continue to be a citizen of Guyana. (Art. 41)
Citizenship and Nationality
Guyana, English
(1) Parliament may make provision -
(a) for the acquisition of citizenship of Guyana by persons who do not become citizens of Guyana by virtue of the provisions of this Chapter2;
(b) for depriving of his or her citizenship of Guyana any person who is a citizen of Guyana otherwise than by virtue of article 41 (in so far as it relates to persons who became citizens of Guyana by virtue of articles 21, 23 and 24 of the Constitution of Guyana annexed to the Guyana Independence Order 1966), 43 or 44; or
(c) for the renunciation by any person of his or her citizenship of Guyana. (Art. 48)
Citizenship and Nationality
Guyana, English
Every person born in Guyana after the commencement of this Constitution shall become a citizen of Guyana at the date of his or her birth:
Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Guyana by virtue of this article if at the time of his or her birth -
(a) his or her father or his or her mother possesses such immunity from suit and legal process as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign power accredited to Guyana and neither of them is a citizen of Guyana; or
(b) his or her father or his or her mother is an enemy alien and the birth occurs in a place then under occupation by the enemy. (Art. 43)
Citizenship and Nationality
Guyana, English
(1) Every person who, immediately before the commencement of this Constitution, is or has been married to a person -
(a) who continues to be a citizen of Guyana by virtue of the preceding article; or
(b) who, having died before the commencement of this Constitution, would, but for his or her death, have continued to be a citizen of Guyana on that date by virtue of that article,
shall, if not otherwise a citizen, be entitled, upon making application and upon taking the oath of allegiance, to be registered as a citizen of Guyana:
Provided that the right to be registered as a citizen under this paragraph shall be subject to such exceptions or qualifications as may be prescribed in the interests of national security or public policy.
… (Art. 42)