WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Does the constitution explicitly guarantee equality or non-discrimination for persons with disabilities?

This map tells us whether nations include measures to promote equity for persons with disabilities in their constitution.

Only constitutional provisions are included in this map. Legislative protections are not shown here. Read more about why constitutions matter.

Explicit guarantees of equality or non-discrimination for persons with disabilities include prohibitions of discrimination against persons with disabilities, guarantees of equal rights, guarantees of equality before the law, and guarantees of overall equality or equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.

The term ‘disability’ refers to both general references to disabilities and specific mentions of mental or physical disabilities.

No specific provision means that the constitution does not explicitly mention the right to equality for persons with disabilities. This does not mean that the constitution denies this right, but that it does not explicitly include it.

Equality guaranteed, not specific to disability means that while these constitutions broadly guarantee the right to equality, they do not specifically do so on the basis of disability.

Aspirational provision means that the constitution protects the general right to equality for persons with disabilities but does not use language strong enough to be considered a guarantee. For example, constitutions in this category might state that the country aims to protect or promote equality regardless of disability.

Guaranteed right means that the constitution protects the right to equality for persons with disabilities in authoritative language. For example, constitutions in this category might guarantee persons with disabilities’ right to equality or make it the State’s responsibility to ensure equality regardless of disability.

On mouseover on the map, a note may appear for some countries which indicates "allows for exceptions." This indicates cases where constitutions explicitly allow for exceptions to equal rights or duties in cases where an individual is "unable to exercise or fulfill [them] due to his or her disability".

Countries

Antigua and Barbuda - No specific provision

Australia - No specific provision

Bahamas - No specific provision

Barbados - No specific provision

Botswana - No specific provision

Brunei - No specific provision

Denmark - No specific provision

Dominica - No specific provision

Greenland - No specific provision

Grenada - No specific provision

Israel - No specific provision

Kiribati - No specific provision

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - No specific provision

Malta - No specific provision

Mauritius - No specific provision

Nauru - No specific provision

Saudi Arabia - No specific provision

Sierra Leone - No specific provision

Solomon Islands - No specific provision

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - No specific provision

Afghanistan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Albania - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Algeria - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Andorra - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Bahrain - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Bangladesh - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Belarus - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Belgium - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Benin - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Bhutan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Brazil - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Bulgaria - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Burkina Faso - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Cambodia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Cameroon - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Cabo Verde - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Chile - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

China - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Comoros - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Republic of the Congo - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Costa Rica - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Croatia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Cyprus - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Czech Republic - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Djibouti - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

El Salvador - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Equatorial Guinea - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Estonia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Ethiopia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

France - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Gabon - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Greece - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Guatemala - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Guinea - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Guinea-Bissau - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Haiti - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Honduras - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Iceland - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

India - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Indonesia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Iran - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Iraq - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Ireland - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Italy - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Jamaica - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Japan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Jordan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Kazakhstan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Republic of Korea - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Kuwait - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Laos - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Latvia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Lebanon - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Lesotho - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Liberia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Libya - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Liechtenstein - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Lithuania - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Luxembourg - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

North Macedonia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Madagascar - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Malaysia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Mali - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Marshall Islands - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Mauritania - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Micronesia, Federated States of - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Moldova - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Monaco - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Mongolia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Montenegro - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Myanmar - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Namibia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

The Netherlands - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Nicaragua - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Nigeria - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Norway - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Oman - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Pakistan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Papua New Guinea - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Peru - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

The Philippines - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Poland - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Qatar - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Russian Federation - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Samoa - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

San Marino - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Sao Tome and Principe - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Senegal - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Seychelles - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Singapore - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Slovakia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

St. Kitts and Nevis - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

St. Lucia - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Suriname - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Syria - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Tajikistan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Tanzania - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Togo - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Tonga - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Trinidad and Tobago - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Turkmenistan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Tuvalu - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Ukraine - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

United Arab Emirates - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

United Kingdom - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

United States of America - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Uruguay - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Uzbekistan - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Vanuatu - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Venezuela - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Vietnam - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Yemen - Equality guaranteed, not specific to persons with disabilities

Argentina - Aspirational provision

Belize - Aspirational provision

Chad - Aspirational provision

Palau - Aspirational provision

Sri Lanka - Aspirational provision

Sweden - Aspirational provision

Türkiye - Aspirational provision

Angola - Guaranteed right

Armenia - Guaranteed right

Austria - Guaranteed right

Azerbaijan - Guaranteed right

Bolivia - Guaranteed right

Burundi - Guaranteed right

Canada - Guaranteed right

Central African Republic - Guaranteed right

Colombia - Guaranteed right

Cote d'Ivoire - Guaranteed right

Cuba - Guaranteed right

Dominican Republic - Guaranteed right

Ecuador - Guaranteed right

Egypt - Guaranteed right

Eritrea - Guaranteed right

Fiji - Guaranteed right

Finland - Guaranteed right

The Gambia - Guaranteed right

Georgia - Guaranteed right

Germany - Guaranteed right

Ghana - Guaranteed right

Guyana - Guaranteed right

Hungary - Guaranteed right

Kenya - Guaranteed right

Kyrgyzstan - Guaranteed right

Malawi - Guaranteed right

Maldives - Guaranteed right

Mexico - Guaranteed right

Morocco - Guaranteed right

Mozambique - Guaranteed right

Nepal - Guaranteed right

New Zealand - Guaranteed right

Niger - Guaranteed right

Panama - Guaranteed right

Paraguay - Guaranteed right

Portugal - Guaranteed right

Romania - Guaranteed right

Rwanda - Guaranteed right

Serbia - Guaranteed right

Slovenia - Guaranteed right

Somalia - Guaranteed right

South Africa - Guaranteed right

South Sudan - Guaranteed right

Spain - Guaranteed right

Sudan - Guaranteed right

Eswatini - Guaranteed right

Switzerland - Guaranteed right

Thailand - Guaranteed right

Timor-Leste - Guaranteed right

Tunisia - Guaranteed right

Uganda - Guaranteed right

Zambia - Guaranteed right

Zimbabwe - Guaranteed right