Year of entry into force: 2000
Region: Europe
Human rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to a clean environment, Right to education, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life, Right to privacy, Right to social security, Right to work
Excerpts
Section 6 – Equality
Everyone is equal before the law.
No one shall, without an acceptable reason, be treated differently from other persons on the ground of sex, age, origin, language, religion, conviction, opinion, health, disability or other reason that concerns his or her person.
Children shall be treated equally and as individuals and they shall be allowed to influence matters pertaining to themselves to a degree corresponding to their level of development.
Equality of the sexes is promoted in societal activity and working life, especially in the determination of pay and the other terms of employment, as provided in more detail by an Act.
Section 7 – The right to life, personal liberty and integrity
Everyone has the right to life, personal liberty, integrity and security.
No one shall be sentenced to death, tortured or otherwise treated in a manner violating human dignity.
The personal integrity of the individual shall not be violated, nor shall anyone be deprived of liberty arbitrarily or without a reason prescribed by an Act. A penalty involving deprivation of liberty may be imposed only by a
court of law. The lawfulness of other cases of deprivation of liberty may be submitted for review by a court of law. The rights of individuals deprived of their liberty shall be guaranteed by an Act.
Section 10 – The right to privacy
Everyone’s private life, honour and the sanctity of the home are guaranteed. More detailed provisions on the
protection of personal data are laid down by an Act.
Section 16 – Educational rights
Everyone has the right to basic education free of charge. Provisions on the duty to receive education are laid down
by an Act.
Section 18 – The right to work and the freedom to engage in commercial activity
Everyone has the right, as provided by an Act, to earn his or her livelihood by the employment, occupation or
commercial activity of his or her choice. The public authorities shall take responsibility for the protection of the
labour force.
Section 19 – The right to social security
Those who cannot obtain the means necessary for a life of dignity have the right to receive indispensable subsistence and care.
Everyone shall be guaranteed by an Act the right to basic subsistence in the event of unemployment, illness, and disability and during old age as well as at the birth of a child or the loss of a provider.
The public authorities shall guarantee for everyone, as provided in more detail by an Act, adequate social, health and medical services and promote the health of the population. Moreover, the public authorities shall support families and others responsible for providing for children so that they have the ability to ensure the wellbeing and personal development of the children.
The public authorities shall promote the right of everyone to housing and the opportunity to arrange their own housing.
Section 20 – Responsibility for the environment
Nature and its biodiversity, the environment and the national heritage are the responsibility of everyone.
The public authorities shall endeavour to guarantee for everyone the right to a healthy environment and for everyone the possibility to influence the decisions that concern their own living environment.