This guide explains the common meanings readers should check first, how Canadian Section 13 works in plain language, where UK and New Zealand texts differ, and practical steps to verify the law in any jurisdiction.
What people mean by “13 bill of rights” – definition and quick context
The phrase 13 bill of rights is shorthand that people use without naming which country’s Bill of Rights or which statute they mean. In plain terms, the words alone do not identify a single legal provision, because different countries use the label Bill of Rights for different documents and apply different numbering systems. For a quick check of the U.S. text, see the National Archives transcription of the Bill of Rights National Archives Bill of Rights transcription and our Bill of Rights full-text guide
When someone asks about Section 13, common possibilities include the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the UK Bill of Rights of 1689, and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Each of these is a separate legal instrument with its own drafting history and numbering, so the same section number will not mean the same thing across jurisdictions. For an easy reference to the Canadian constitutional text, consult the Justice Laws Website Justice Laws Website for the Canadian Constitution
Because the phrase is ambiguous, a reader who needs a precise legal answer should start by identifying the jurisdiction and the exact instrument. If the question comes from a news story or a social post, check whether the author names Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, or another jurisdiction before assuming the provision referenced. The New Zealand text is available on New Zealand Legislation for direct reading New Zealand Bill of Rights Act text
Short answer: Does the U.S. Bill of Rights include a Section 13?
Short answer: no, the U.S. Bill of Rights does not include a Section 13. The U.S. Bill of Rights is the conventional name for the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and those amendments are referred to by amendment number rather than section numbers. You can read the full constitutional language on the Legal Information Institute site Legal Information Institute Bill of Rights
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Before you go farther, identify which country or statute someone means and then read the primary text for that instrument.
If you were looking for a U.S. rule or protection tied to the number 13, it is important to ask whether the reference is to a specific statute, a state constitution, or another numbered provision outside the first ten amendments. Where in doubt, point readers to the primary constitutional text and to reliable law-hosting sites like the National Archives or established legal resources.
If you meant Canada: what Section 13 of the Canadian Charter says
In Canada, Section 13 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms addresses the use of statements made by witnesses. In plain language, the provision prevents evidence a witness gave under compulsion in one proceeding from being used to incriminate that witness in another proceeding; the Charter text and government explanations present the protection as limited to compelled testimony rather than a full personal immunity. The Justice Laws Website hosts the Constitution and the Charter for direct reading Justice Laws Website for the Canadian Constitution and the government Section 13 overview Section 13 – Protection against self-incrimination
It depends on the jurisdiction named. The U.S. Bill of Rights has no Section 13; in Canada, Section 13 of the Charter prevents compelled testimony from being used to incriminate a witness in another proceeding; other countries use different texts and numbering.
Official overviews by the Department of Justice explain that Section 13 is aimed at situations where a person has been required to give evidence and that the protection operates to prevent that compelled evidence from being repurposed to prosecute the same person later. For contextual guidance from the government, see the Department of Justice overview of the Charter Department of Justice Canada on the Charter
How courts have limited Section 13 protections in Canada
Court decisions have clarified that Section 13 is not a blanket rule that prevents any prosecution after compelled testimony. Canadian courts have repeatedly held that the clause bars the use of compelled testimony across proceedings but does not prevent prosecution where the Crown can proceed on independent, non-compelled evidence. See decisions such as R. v. Jabarianha for examples and reasoning. Official interpretations and summaries of Charter jurisprudence are available from the Department of Justice Department of Justice Canada on the Charter
Put another way, Section 13 protects against the direct reuse of compelled statements to incriminate a witness, but it does not create general personal immunity against charges that can be supported by independent proof. Readers who want examples should look to reported decisions that discuss compelled testimony and the presence or absence of independent evidence in a case.
Other ‘Bills of Rights’ and why their Section 13s differ
The UK Bill of Rights from 1689 and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 are separate instruments and should be read as such. The 1689 document is a historical parliamentary statute with its own provisions and numbering; it does not map onto modern constitutional texts in other countries. The official text for the UK instrument is available on legislation.gov.uk Bill of Rights 1689 text
Similarly, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 is a statutory instrument that lists rights and duties in a modern statutory format; its section numbers reflect New Zealand drafting and cover different rights than Section 13 of the Canadian Charter. For direct reading of the New Zealand text use New Zealand Legislation New Zealand Bill of Rights Act text
How to determine which ‘Section 13’ someone means
Use this quick checklist when someone refers to Section 13: first ask which country or jurisdiction they mean, second ask whether they mean a constitution, a statute, or a charter, and third ask for any context such as whether the issue concerns witness testimony, criminal procedure, or historical rights. When the jurisdiction is named, go directly to the primary text for that instrument.
If you plan to answer a question publicly, cite the exact provision by instrument and section name, and link to the primary source. For constitutional texts in the countries discussed here, direct sources are National Archives or law-hosting sites for the United States, the Justice Laws Website for Canada, legislation.gov.uk for the UK, and New Zealand Legislation for New Zealand.
Practical resources and a short product-style paragraph for readers
Read primary texts first. For U.S. constitutional language consult the National Archives or established law libraries; for Canada use the Justice Laws Website; for the UK use legislation.gov.uk; for New Zealand use New Zealand Legislation. These official sites provide the authoritative text you should quote when attributing legal provisions. You can also read the U.S. Constitution exact words, where to read and cite on our site.
For interpretation and applied guidance, official departmental overviews such as the Department of Justice in Canada and annotated versions hosted by national archives or government publishers are useful starting points. Always check recent case law to see how courts have applied the text to facts. See our site section on constitutional rights for more context.
How to research Section 13 and verify current law
Start with the official statute or constitutional text for the named jurisdiction and then search reported decisions that interpret the provision. Government statute sites and national archives provide the primary text and often link to explanatory notes or official guidance.
quick list of databases and search phrases
Use country name plus "Section 13" in searches
Good search phrases include the instrument name plus section number and the term interpretation, for example “Canadian Charter Section 13 interpretation” or “Bill of Rights 1689 section 13.” For recent Canadian decisions, national case law databases and government justice pages provide direct access to reported rulings. See specific reported decisions such as R. v. Kuldip when looking for judicial interpretation.
Common mistakes and pitfalls when someone asks about Section 13
A common mistake is assuming that Section 13 refers to U.S. law; that is incorrect because the U.S. Bill of Rights uses amendment numbers and has no Section 13. Always check which instrument is in play before answering a legal question.
Another pitfall is describing Section 13 protections as absolute personal immunity. In Canada, courts have made clear that the protection bars the use of compelled testimony across proceedings but does not prevent prosecution when independent evidence supports charges. For government summaries of Charter protections consult the Department of Justice Department of Justice Canada on the Charter
Conclusion: clear next steps if you need a definitive answer
To get a definitive answer, identify the jurisdiction, read the primary text for the instrument named, and then check recent court decisions for how courts have interpreted that provision. For U.S. constitutional language check the National Archives or established law libraries; for Canadian constitutional language use the Justice Laws Website; for the UK and New Zealand use their official legislation sites.
When you report or summarize the law, cite the instrument and link to the official text, and avoid presenting legal effects as guaranteed outcomes. If a reader needs help locating a specific decision or section, point them to the official sources listed above and to national case law repositories.
No. The U.S. Bill of Rights refers to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and is not organized as numbered sections labeled Section 13.
Section 13 of the Canadian Charter protects witnesses from having statements they gave under compulsion in one proceeding used to incriminate them in another, subject to limits in case law.
Identify the instrument and jurisdiction, read the primary text on an official government site, and search recent court decisions in a national case law database.
When sharing legal summaries, always attribute the instrument and link to the official text rather than paraphrasing without citation.
