This section contains a list of legislations around the world pertaining to gender equality. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Should you have information on other such laws that you wish to share with others, write to us at: <iwraw-ap@iwraw-ap.org>.
Albania
Law on an Equal Gender Society 2004
Australia
Sex Discrimination Act 1984 *pdf
Austria
Equal Treatment Act 1979 (amended in 1982, 1985, 1990, 1993, 2001)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2003
Bulgaria
Act on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men 2002
China
Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women
Colombia
Por la Cual se Dictan Normas Sobre Igualdad de Oportunidades para las Mujeres (Norms on the Equality of Opportunity for Women) 2003
Croatia
Gender Equality Act 2003
Denmark
Gender Equality (Consolidation) Act
Estonia
Gender Equality Act 2004
Finland
Act on Equality between Women and Men (8.8.1986/609)
Guyana
Prevention of Discrimination Act *pdf
Honduras
Ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades para la Mujer (Law on Equality of Opportunities for Woman) 2000 *pdf
Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionof the People's Republic of China (HKSAR)
Sex Discrimination Ordinance
Iceland
The Act on the Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men
The Act on Maternity/Paternity Leave and Parental Leave, No. 95/2000, as amended by Act No. 90/2004 [unofficial translation]
Ireland
Equality Act 2004
Japan
Basic Law for Gender Equal Society 1999
Kosovo (UN administered territory)
Law on Gender Equality in Kosovo 2004
Kyrgyzstan Republic
Law on the Basics of State Guarantees of Gender Equality 2003
Laos
Law on the Protection and Development of Women 2004
Lithuania
Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Equal Opportunities 1998
Moldova
Law on Ensuring Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, No. 5-XVI of 9 February 2006 *word format
Nepal
An Act to Amend Some Nepal Acts for Maintaining Gender Equality, 2063 (2006)
Nicaragua
Ley de Igualdad de Derechos y Oportunidades (Law on Equality of Rights and Opportunities)
Norway
The Act Relating to Gender Equality (the Gender Equality Act)
The Act on Prohibition of Discrimination Based on Ethnicity, Religion, etc. (the Anti-Discrimination Act) [unofficial translation]
The Act on the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud and the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal (The Anti-Discrimination Ombud Act)
Paraguay
Ley No 1/92. De la Reforma Parcial del Código Civil (Law No 1/92 of the Partial Reform of the Civil Code)
Puerto Rico
Ley para Garantizar la Igualdad de Opportunidades en el Empleo por Genero e poner sanciones (Law to Guarantee Equality of Opportunity in Employment) 1999
Romania
Law on Equal Opportunities between Women and Men 2002
Singapore
Women’s Charter 1961 (amended 1967, 1969, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001)
Spain
Por el que se Crea el Observatorio de la Igualdad de Oportunidades entre Mujeres y Hombres 2000
Slovakia
Act on Equal Treatment in Certain Areas and Protection against Discrimination, amending and supplementing certain other laws (Antidiscrimination Act)
Slovenia
Act on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men 2002
Act for Implementing Equal Treatment 2004
South Africa
Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (No. 4 of 2000)
Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Amendment Act, 2002 (Act 52 of 2002)
South Korea
Gender Discrimination Prevention and Relief Act 1999
Sweden
The Equal Opportunities Act ( Act on Equality between Women and Men) *pdf
The Prohibition of Discrimination Act *word format
Equal Treatment of Students at Universities Act *word format
Act on the prohibition of discrimination and other degrading treatment of children and pupils *word format
Switzerland
Federal Act on Gender Equality 1995
Tajikistan
Law of the Republic of Tajikistan On State guarantees of equal rights for men and women and equal opportunities in the exercise of such rights.
United Kingdom
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Ukraine
On State Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities For Men and Women 2005
We wish to acknowledge, with thanks, the contributions of friends and colleagues of IWRAW Asia Pacific, who have helped to provide the resources on this page.
