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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Customary Law
- EnglishNo person may succeed to any tofi'a or any title until he has attained the age of twenty one years, save for members of the Royal Family who shall be deemed to have attained maturity at eighteen years of age. (Clause 27)
- Tongan‘E ‘ikai ha taha ‘e ngofua ke hoko ko e ‘ea ki ha tofi‘a pe ha hingoa kae ‘oua kuo kakato hono uofulu mā taha ta‘u, tuku kehe ‘a kinautolu ‘i he fāmili ‘o e Tu‘i ‘a ia kuo pau ke lau kuo nau a‘u ki he ta‘u fakalao ‘i he ta‘u ‘e hongofulu-mā-valu. (Kupu 27)
Customary Law
- English1. Subject to the provisions of subsections (4) and (5) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
3. In this section, the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not accorded to persons of another such description.
4. Subsection (1) shall not apply to any law to the extent that that law makes provision—
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b. for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in subsection (3) (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters which is the personal law of persons of that description;
c. for the application of the customary law of Lesotho with respect to any matter in the case of persons who, under that law, are subject to that law;
… (Sec. 18)
Customary Law
- EnglishA chief—
a. may own property in a personal capacity; and
b. shall enjoy privileges and benefits—
i. bestowed on the office of chief by or under culture, custom and tradition; and
ii. attached to the office of chief, as prescribed. (Art. 167)
Customary Law
- English
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WHEREAS the Leaders of Samoa have declared that Samoa should be an Independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and tradition;
… (Preamble) - Samoan
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ONA ua faaalia e Taitai o Samoa le tatau ona avea Samoa ma Malo Tutoatasi e faavaeina i luga o talitonuga faa-Kerisiano ma tu ma aganuu a Samoa;
… (Uputomua)
Customary Law
- EnglishEvery Togolese citizen has the right to circulate freely and to establish themselves in the national territory in any place [point] of their choice within the conditions defined by the law or local custom. … (Art. 22)
- FrenchTout citoyen togolais a le droit de circuler librement et de s'établir sur le territoire national en tout point de son choix dans les conditions définies par la loi ou la coutume locale. … (Art. 22)
Customary Law
- English…
5. Pursuant to sub-Article 5 of Article 34 the House of Peoples’ Representatives and State Councils can establish or give official recognition to religious and customary courts. Religious and customary courts that had state recognition and functioned prior to the adoption of the Constitution shall be organized on the basis of recognition accorded to them by this Constitution. (Art. 78) - Amharic…
5. የህዝብ ተወካዬች ምክር ቤትና የክልል ምክር ቤቶች በኣንቀጽ 34 ንኡስ ኣንቀጽ 5 መሰረት የሃማኖትና የባሕል ፍርድ ቤቶችን ሊያቋቁሙ ወይም እውቅና ሊሰጡ ይችላሉ፡፡ ይህ ሕገ መንግሥት ከመጽደቁ በፊት በመንግሥት እውቅና አግኝተው ሲሰራባቸው የነበሩ የሃይማኖቶችና የባሕል ፍርድ ቤቶች በዚህ ሕገ መንግሥት መሰረት እውቅና አግኝተው ይደራጃሉ፡፡ (አንቀጽ 78)
Customary Law
- English...
b. The Legislature shall enact laws to govern the devolution of estates and establish rights of inheritance and descent for spouses of both statutory and customary marriages so as to give adequate protection to surviving spouses and children of such marriages. (Art. 23)
Customary Law
- English(1) This Constitution is the supreme law of Zimbabwe and any law, practice, custom or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
… (Sec. 2)
Customary Law
- English...
3. Land in Uganda shall be owned in accordance with the following land tenure systems-
a. customary;
b. freehold;
c. mailo; and
d. leasehold.
4. On the coming into force of this Constitution-
a. all Uganda citizens owning land under customary tenure may acquire certificates of ownership in a manner prescribed by Parliament; and
b. land under customary tenure may be converted to freehold land ownership by registration.
… (Art. 237)
Customary Law
- EnglishIn this Constitution—
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“Communal Land” means land set aside under an Act of Parliament and held in accordance with customary law by members of a community under the leadership of a Chief;
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“customary law” means the customary law of any section or community of Zimbabwe’s people;
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“traditional leader” means a person appointed as such in terms of section 283;
… (Sec. 332)