Rights & Remedies
Formal Equality
Equality before the law, ensuring legal norms apply equally to all regardless of gender.
Definition
Formal equality refers to the principle that all individuals are equal before the law and are entitled to equal treatment under legal norms, without distinction based on gender. This concept ensures that laws are written and applied in a non-discriminatory manner, providing the same rights and obligations to women and men. In Uruguay, the Gender Equality Law (Ley N° 19.846) explicitly aims to guarantee formal equality, ensuring that the legal framework itself does not create or perpetuate gender-based disparities. It is a foundational aspect of the broader equality framework, serving as a prerequisite for achieving substantive equality.