Equal Rights in All Matters Relating to Marriage and Family Relations.
Section 19
SEC. 19. Equal Rights in All Matters Relating to Marriage and Family Relations. — The State shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations and shall ensure: the same rights to enter into and leave marriages or common law relationships referred to under the Family Code without prejudice to personal or religious beliefs; the same rights to choose freely a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent. The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect; the joint decision on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to the information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights; the same personal rights between spouses or common law spouses including the right to choose freely a profession and an occupation; the same rights for both spouses or common law spouses in respect of the ownership, acquisition, management, administration, enjoyment, and disposition of property; the same rights to properties and resources, whether titled or not, and inheritance, whether formal or customary; and women shall have equal rights with men to acquire, change, or retain their nationality. The State shall ensure in particular that neither marriage to an alien nor change of nationality by the husband during marriage shall automatically change the nationality of the wife, render her stateless or force upon her the nationality of the husband. Various statutes of other countries concerning dual citizenship that may be enjoyed equally by women and men shall likewise be considered. Customary laws shall be respected: Provided, however, That they do not discriminate against women.