Constitution, 15 August 1982
Annual Review of Population Law 14: 266-269
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0364-3417 PMID: 12346662 Document Number: 381249
This document reprints major provisions of the 1982 Constitution of Equatorial Guinea. The Constitution calls for protection of the family as the basic building block of society. Foreigners are afforded the same civil rights as citizens and may seek asylum but may not exercise political rights. The Constitution guarantees equality before the law and prohibits discrimination based on ethnic background, race, sex, language, religion, filiation, political or other views, social origin, economic position, or birth. Women are afforded the same rights as men regardless of their marital status. The Constitution also guarantees citizens freedom to travel nationally and internationally and to choose a place of residence. Equatoguineans are also entitled to a standard of living that insures health, nutrition, education, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services. The family policy contained in the Constitution protects all types of legal marriages equally and recognizes nonattachable and inalienable family patrimony. Children are protected from the time of conception, and all inhabitants are guaranteed a basic state education which is compulsory and free. Efforts are also being made to eradicate illiteracy. Women are insured training and promotion for their integration into the active life and development of the country, and farmers are guaranteed traditional ownership of the lands they possess, although the state retains the right of eminent domain.