The most comprehensive compilation of information on the status of
women in the world.

Latest items for IAW-LAW-1

Sept. 28, 2023, 10:28 a.m.
Countries: Pakistan
Variables: LO-LAW-1, ATDW-PRACTICE-1, ATDW-LAW-1, IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Women faced legal and economic discrimination. The law prohibits discrimination based on sex, but authorities did not enforce it. Women also faced discrimination in employment, family law, property law, and the judicial system. Family law provides protection for women in cases of divorce, including requirements for maintenance, and sets clear guidelines for custody of minor children and their maintenance. Many women were unaware of these legal protections or were unable to obtain legal counsel to enforce them. Divorced women often were left with no means of support, as their families ostracized them. Women are legally free to marry without family consent, but society frequently ostracized women who did so, or...more
Sept. 28, 2023, 8:57 a.m.
Countries: Bahrain
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"Islamic law mandates that men receive more inheritance than women and that children take citizenship from their fathers. Moreover, it states that it is unacceptable for women to live outside their married houses. Thus, while CEDAW improved women’s rights in Bahrain, the country’s commitment to Sharia law prevents Bahrain from truly accepting these social reforms" (para 6).
Sept. 28, 2023, 8:48 a.m.
Countries: Bahrain
Variables: IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1

"The basis for family law is sharia, as interpreted by Sunni and Shia religious experts. In 2017 King Hamad ratified the Shia portion of the Unified Family Law codifying the rights of Shia citizens, in particular women, according to the civil code on issues such as marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Shia and Sunni family law is enforced by separate judicial bodies composed of religious authorities charged with interpreting sharia" (32). "Women may own and inherit property and represent themselves in all public and legal matters. In the absence of a direct male heir, Shia women may inherit all of their husband’s property, while Sunni women inherit only a...more
Sept. 8, 2023, 3:54 p.m.
Countries: Nicaragua
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"In the intestate succession, neither the sex nor the primogeniture" (109). "The following are called to the intestate succession: 1º The legitimate descendants of the deceased. 2º Their legitimate ancestors. 3º The legitimate collaterals. 4th The natural children or natural grandchildren. 5º Their natural parents or natural grandparents. 6º The natural brothers. 7º The surviving spouse. 8º The municipalities. The order of succession is that indicated in the subsequent title" (109-110). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1904) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for...more
Sept. 8, 2023, 2:04 p.m.
Countries: Netherlands
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"1. By law the following heirs are successively called to the estate of the deceased in order to inherit his property: a. the not legally separated spouse of the deceased together with the deceased’s children; b. if none of the under point (a) mentioned persons exist: the parents of the deceased together with the deceased’s brothers and sisters; c. if none of the under point (a) and (b) mentioned persons exist: the grandparents of the deceased; d. if none of the under point (a) (b) and (c) mentioned persons exist: the great-grandparents of the deceased" (art. 10). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 2012) relating to...more
Sept. 7, 2023, 1:32 p.m.
Countries: Nepal
Variables: LO-LAW-1, ATDW-LAW-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"The law contains discriminatory provisions. For example, the law on property rights favors men in land tenancy and the division of family property. The constitution, however, confers rights for women that had not previously received legal protection, including rights equal to those of their spouses in property and family affairs, and special opportunities in education, health, and social security" (27). "The law grants women equal shares of their parents’ inheritance and the right to keep their property after marriage, but many women were not aware of their rights, and others were afraid to challenge existing practice. The law also grants widows complete access to and authority over the estate of...more
Sept. 7, 2023, 1:15 p.m.
Countries: Nepal
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"For the purposes of apportionment of a property in common, the husband, wife, father, mother, son and daughter shall be deemed to be coparceners, subject to the other Sections of this Chapter" (113). "(1) Each coparcener shall have equal entitlement to partition share. (2) If a woman coparcener is pregnant at the time of partition, and the baby to be delivered by her is to become a coparcener, partition shall be made by treating also such would be born baby as a coparcener and only after setting aside his or her partition share of property. (3) If the pregnant woman under sub-section (2) does not deliver a live baby, the...more
Sept. 6, 2023, 6:29 p.m.
Countries: Mozambique
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"The Committee takes note of the progress achieved in legislative reform since the consideration of the previous periodic report, but notes with concern the challenges to the effective implementation of the legal framework in place to protect women’s rights and the remaining discriminatory provisions in the legislative framework of the State party, including provisions on inheritance rights. With reference to its general recommendation No. 28 (2010) on the core obligations of States parties under article 2 of the Convention, the Committee recalls its previous recommendations (CEDAW/C/MOZ/CO/2, para. 13) and recommends that the State party...Amend or repeal all remaining sex discriminatory provisions, including those on inheritance rights, and complete its revision...more
Sept. 6, 2023, 12:35 p.m.
Countries: Mongolia
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"The following persons shall be lawful successors with equal right for inheritance: The testator’s spouses, children born from before or after the death of testator or adopted, parents or foster parents" (183). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 2002) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Sept. 1, 2023, 4:36 p.m.
Countries: Moldova
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"(1) The surviving spouse is an heir on intestacy and is entitled to one quarter of the inheritance together with relatives of the first degree, regardless of the number of descendants. (2) The surviving spouse is entitled to one half of the inheritance together with relatives of the second degree or together with grandparents, regardless of the number of heirs. If there are both grandparents and descendants of grandparents living, the spouse also receives the share of the other half that under Article 2180 would pass to the descendants. (3) The share in the inheritance of the surviving spouse are determined before the determination of the share in the inheritance...more
Sept. 1, 2023, 3:40 p.m.
Countries: Mexico
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"The following have the right to inherit by legitimate succession: I.- The descendants, spouses, ascendants, collateral relatives within the fourth degree and the common-law spouses...(AMENDED, G.O. JUNE 7, 2006)" (178). "The surviving spouse, concurring with descendants, will have the right of a child, if he/she lacks assets or those that he/she has at the death of the author of the succession, do not equal the portion that each child should correspond to" (179). "In the absence of descendants, ascendants and siblings, the spouse will succeed all the goods" (180). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 2000) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022...more
Sept. 1, 2023, 2:03 p.m.
Countries: Mauritius
Variables: LO-LAW-1, IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1

"Men and women enjoy the same legal status and rights under the constitution and law. The courts upheld these rights. Nonetheless, cultural and societal barriers prevented women from fully exercising their legal rights, especially in some cases involving inheritance" (14).
Sept. 1, 2023, 1:54 p.m.
Countries: Mauritius
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Successions are transferred to the children and descendants of the deceased, to his spouse, to his ascendants and his collateral relatives in the order and according to the rules below determined" (101). "The surviving spouse succeeds in the same rank as a child. He participates with the child or children in sharing, in equal portions, the succession of the deceased husband" (105). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1981) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 31, 2023, 12:37 p.m.
Countries: Mauritania
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"The heirs entitled to a quarter are two in number: 1. The husband whose wife leaves descendants entitled to the inheritance; 2. A wife whose husband leaves no descendants entitled to the inheritance. There is only one heir to the eighth, it is the wife or wives if the husband left a descendant likely to inherit" (30). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 2001) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 31, 2023, 11:12 a.m.
Countries: Malta
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"Where the deceased has left no children or other descendants but is survived by a spouse the succession devolves on the spouse" (191). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 2017) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 31, 2023, 10:29 a.m.
Countries: Mali
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"The successor spouse is the non-divorced surviving spouse against whom there is no legal separation judgment passed into force of res judicata" (153). "The succession devolves, in the absence of descendants, to the surviving spouses and to the father and mother per head and per equal portion. In the event of the predecease of the father or the mother, the share which would have returned to the predeceased falls to the surviving spouses. The surviving spouse or spouses also collect the usufruct of half of the property of the succession...The surviving spouse or spouses collect the entire estate per capita and by equal portion, in the absence of descendants, father...more
Aug. 30, 2023, 5:09 p.m.
Countries: Malawi
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Upon intestacy, the persons entitled to inherit the intestate of fair property shall be the members of the immediate family and dependents of the intestate, and their shares shall be ascertained upon the following principles of fair distribution—(a) protection shall be provided for members of the immediate family and dependents from hardship so far as the property available for distribution can provide such protection; (b) every spouse of the intestate shall be entitled to retain all the household belongings which belong to his or her household; (c) if any property shall remain after paragraphs (a) and (b) have been complied with, the remaining property shall be divided between the surviving...more
Aug. 30, 2023, 3:33 p.m.
Countries: Macedonia
Variables: LO-PRACTICE-1, LO-LAW-1, IAW-PRACTICE-1, IAW-LAW-1, IAD-PRACTICE-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Women have the same legal status as men under family, religious, personal status, and nationality laws, as well as laws related to labor, property, nationality, inheritance, employment, access to credit, and owning or managing businesses or property. The laws were effectively enforced" (34).
Aug. 30, 2023, 2:16 p.m.
Countries: Luxembourg
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"Successions are transferred to the children and descendants of the deceased, to his surviving spouse, to his ascendants and to his collateral relatives, in the order and according to the rules determined below" (731). "When the deceased leaves neither children nor descendants of them, his surviving spouse is entitled to the entire estate in full ownership" (767). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1803) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 30, 2023, 11:54 a.m.
Countries: Lithuania
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"The surviving spouse of the bequeather shall be entitled to inherit pursuant to intestate succession or alongside with the heirs (if any) of either the first or second degree of descent. Together with the first degree heirs, he shall inherit one fourth of the inheritance in the event of existence of not more than three heirs apart from the spouse. In the event where there are more than three heirs, the spouse shall inherit in equal shares with the other heirs. If the spouse inherits with the second degree heirs, he is entitled to a half of the inheritance. In the event of absence of the first and second degree...more
Aug. 29, 2023, 4:16 p.m.
Countries: Liberia
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"Upon the husband’s death, the widow or multiple widows shall be entitled to only one-third (1/3) of their late husband’s property; the balance two thirds (2/3) of the decedent’s property shall descend to his children, if any, or to his collateral heirs according to the Decedents Estates Law" (4). "After the death or burial of her/their husband, the customary widow or multiple shall be at liberty either to remain on the premises of her/their late husband to administer said estate, or she/they may take another husband of her/their choice and shall vacate the premises of the late husband in as much the new marriage entered automatically reverse said rights and...more
Aug. 29, 2023, 1:43 p.m.
Countries: Latvia
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"Pursuant to law, invited to inherit are 1) the spouse, 2) kin and 3) adoptees. The surviving spouse shall inherit from the deceased regardless of the form of property relationship that was in effect between the spouses during their marriage" (103). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1998) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 29, 2023, 12:39 p.m.
Countries: Laos
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"Heirs are as follows: 1. Offspring, adopted children, stepchildren of the owner of inheritance including Unborn children are entitled to their share of inheritance of the deceased. The mother shall manage the inheritance; 2. The surviving spouse of the owner of the inheritance; 3. Parents or paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents or great grandparents of the owner of the heritage; 4. Older and younger brothers and sisters, or paternal uncles and aunts and maternal uncles and aunts, or nephews and nieces of the owner of the heritage; 5. The State, or legal entities and other individuals as specified in this Civil Code" (157). "In case a spouse dies leaving the...more
Aug. 24, 2023, 5:45 p.m.
Countries: Kazakhstan
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"The right of the first queue to inherit by law shall be granted in equal shares to the children of an estate-leaver, including those born alive after his (her) death as well as the spouse and parents of the estate-leaver" (1061). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1994) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 24, 2023, 4:36 p.m.
Countries: Japan
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"The spouse of the decedent always becomes an heir. In this, if someone is to become an heir pursuant to the provisions of Article 887 or the preceding Article, the spouse takes the same place in the line of succession as that person" (para 890). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1896) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022 and no changes have been made, as verified by consulting The Women, Business, and the Law database for 2022 (JLR-CODER COMMENT).
Aug. 24, 2023, 3:16 p.m.
Countries: Jamaica
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"An application for an order...may be made by any of the persons referred to in subsection (2) on the ground that the disposition of the deceased's estate effected by his will or the law relating to intestacy, or the combination of his will and that law, is not such as to make reasonable financial provision for the maintenance of the applicant. (2) The persons to whom subsection (1) applies are- (a) the wife or husband of the deceased; (6) a child; (c) a parent of the deceased who was being maintained wholly or partly or was legally entitled to be maintained wholly or partly by the deceased immediately before his...more
Aug. 23, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Countries: Italy
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"In legitimate succession, the inheritance is devolved to the spouse, descendants, parents ascendants, collaterals, other relatives and the State in order and second the rules established in this title" (50). "In the absence of children, ascendants, brothers or sisters, all the inheritance devolves on the spouse" (51).
Aug. 23, 2023, 4:17 p.m.
Countries: Ireland
Variables: IAW-LAW-1, IAD-LAW-1

"If an intestate dies leaving a spouse and no issue, the spouse shall take the whole estate. (2) If an intestate dies leaving a spouse and issue—(a) the spouse shall take two-thirds of the estate, and (b) the remainder shall be distributed among the issue in accordance with subsection (4). (3) If an intestate dies leaving issue and no spouse, his estate shall be distributed among the issue in accordance with subsection (4). (4) If all the issue are in equal degree of relationship to the deceased the distribution shall be in equal shares among them; if they are not, it shall be per stirpes" (para 67). The most recent...more
Aug. 23, 2023, 1:36 p.m.
Countries: Iraq
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"1. The husband with an ascendant inheriting his wife shall be due a quarter and shall be due half when there is no ascendant. The wife shall be due an eighth when there is an inheriting ascendant and a quarter when there is no ascendant. 2. The girl or girls, if there is no son for the deceased, shall be due the remaining estate, after the parents and the other husband receive their due share. The girls shall receive the entire estate when there are none of them" (26). The most recent laws noted in the WomanStats Database (since 1959) relating to inheritance are still current as of December 2022...more
Aug. 23, 2023, 12:43 p.m.
Countries: Iran
Variables: IAW-LAW-1

"Article 899 - Three categories of heirs are entitled to a share of one - half of the estate 1 - The husband, on condition that there be no children from the deceased wife whether from that husband or from another husband. 2- A daughter, if she be sole offspring. 3-A sister of full blood or half blood on the father’s side, provided that she be the only one. Article 900 - Two categories of heirs are entitled to take one - quarter of the estate as their share. 1 - The husband, if the woman dies having children. 2- The wife or wives, prided that the husband has died...more