Paraguay

Paraguay

Right	Section	Contents
Freedom of Association	History	Freedom of association is recognized in Paraguayan law in the 1870 constitution. Under Article 18, Paraguayans have the right to “associate with each other for useful purposes,” though “subject to the proper rules and regulations.” Comparative Constitutions Project. “Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay.” World Constitutions Illustrated, July 24, 2023, https://heinonline-org.ccl.idm.oclc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzpy0009&id=2&men_tab=srchresults.
Freedom of Expression	History	Article 18 of the 1870 Constitution of Paraguay includes a reference to the right of inhabitants of Paraguay "to teach and to learn", and Article 23 protects "Private acts, which in no way affect public order or morals or do wrong to third parties." Article 72 of the 1967 Constitution of Paraguay offered an explicit guarantee of freedom of expression in peacetime. References: English Translation of the Spanish Original Text of the Constitution of 1870 4-5 (2022) Chapter II: Rights and Guarantees: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzpy0009&id=5&men_tab=srchresults English Translation of the Spanish Original Text of the Constitution of 1967 10 (2022) Section 1: Individual Rights: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzpy0027&id=12&men_tab=srchresults
Freedom of Religion	History	Freedom of religion was first protected in Paraguay under the constitution of 1870. Part I Chapter I Article 3 states that while Roman Catholicism is the state religion, “Congress… shall not have power to forbid the free exercise of any other religion…” (Hein Online). The current Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay was ratified on June 20, 1992. Articles 24, 37, 63, 74 and 88 grant religious freedom, equality, and prohibit religious discrimination. Article 24 declares the relationship between the state and the Catholic church to be independent, cooperative, and autonomy. Article 24 states that “[t]he freedom of religion, of worship, and ideological [freedom] are recognized without any restrictions other than those established in this Constitution and in the law” (constituteproject.org). "Chapter I: General Declarations." Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay, pp. 1-3. HeinOnline, https://heinonline-org.uc.idm.oclc.org/HOL/P?h=hein.cow/zzpy0009&i=2. “Paraguay 1992 (Rev. 2011) Constitution.” Constitute. Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Paraguay_2011.
Freedom of the Press	History	Article 72 of Paraguay’s 1967 Constitution first established protections on press freedom: “Freedom of expression and of information without prior Censorship are inviolable, and no law shall be enacted that limits such freedom or prevents it except in matters connected with the prohibitions contained in the preceding article” (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, “Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay”). Today, Article 27 of Paraguay’s 1992 Constitution protects press freedom: “The use of the mass communication media is of public interest; in consequence, their functioning may not be closed or suspended… Any discriminatory practice in the provision of supplies to the press, as well as interfering the radio-electrical frequencies and the obstruction, in any way, of the free circulation, distribution, and sale of periodicals, books, magazines, or other publications with a responsible direction or authors are prohibited" (Constitute Project, “ Paraguay’s Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2011” ).
Privacy Rights	History	The 1870 Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay guarantees in Article 19 that “domicile as well as correspondence and private papers are also inviolable; but a law may provide in which cases and on what grounds an order can be made as to when one may be entered and the other seized.” Article 23 additionally protects privacy, stating that “private acts, which in no way affect public order or morals or do wrong to third parties, are reserved for God alone and exempted from the jurisdiction of the constituted authorities.” The 1992 Constitution contains similar language about both privacy of the home and personal and familial intimacy. The protection of data falls under the rights guaranteed in Paraguay’s Constitution combined with its 2002 Private Information Law which “regulates the collection, storage, distribution, publication, modification, destruction, duration, and overall processing of personal data in files, registers, data banks, or other technical means of processing of public or private data intended to provide reports” (“Paraguay”). References: “Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay.” 1870. Comparative Constitutions Project, 2008. World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzpy0009&id=6&men_tab=srchresults “Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay.” 1992. Translated by Maria del Carmen Gress, HeinOnline, 2008. World Constitutions Illustrated, HeinOnline. https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzpy0024&id=10&men_tab=srchresults “Paraguay.” DataGuidance. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://www.dataguidance.com/jurisdiction/paraguay
Voting Rights and Suffrage	History	Article 118 of Paraguay’s Constitution states that it is the right and duty of citizens to vote in their universal, direct, equal and secret elections. Article 120 states that the voting age is 18 and that Paraguayan citizens living abroad may also vote. (Constitute Project, “ Paraguay’s Constitution of 1992 with Amendments through 2011” ).