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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
- English1. The state shall recognise the status, role and functions of the institutions of the traditional authorities founded in accordance with customary law which do not contradict the Constitution.
2. Recognition of the institutions of the traditional authorities shall oblige public and private entities to respect, in their relations with these institutions, the values and norms of customary law that are observed within traditional political and community organisations and do not conflict with the Constitution or the dignity of the human person. (Art. 223) - Portuguese1. O Estado reconhece o estatuto, o papel e as funções das instituições do poder tradicional constituídas de acordo com o direito consuetudinário e que não contrariam a Constituição.
2. O reconhecimento das instituições do poder tradicional obriga as entidades públicas e privadas a respeitarem, nas suas relações com aquelas instituições, os valores e normas consuetudinários observados no seio das organizações político-comunitárias tradicionais e que não sejam conflituantes com a Constituição nem com a dignidade da pessoa humana. (Art. 223)
Customary Law
- English...
7. Rights in land and resources owned, held or otherwise acquired by the Government shall be exercised through the appropriate or designated level of government which shall recognize customary land rights under customary land law.
8. All levels of government shall institute a process to progressively develop and amend the relevant laws to incorporate customary rights and practices and local heritage.
… (Art. 171)
Customary Law
- English
(1) There shall be a Land and Titles Court comprising of:
(a) Land and Titles First Court;
(b) Land and Titles High Court; and
(c) Land and Titles Court of Appeal and Review,
and all appointments and with such jurisdiction in relation to matai title and customary lands provided in this 'Part IX Land and Titles Court' of the Constitution, or an Act of Parliament.
(2) The Courts in this Part IX Land and Titles Court has special jurisdiction, it governs a legal system different and separate from that of the Civil and Criminal Courts in Part VI; and has special individual jurisdiction over the subject of Samoan customs and usages in relation to matai titles and customary lands.
(3) All persons are entitled to the protection of their custom rights the subject of the jurisdiction of the courts in this Part. (Art. 104) - Samoan
(1) O le a i ai se Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa e aofia ai:
(a) Faamasinoga Muamua o Fanua ma Suafa;
(b) Faamasinoga Maualuga o Fanua ma Suafa; ma le
(c) Faamasinoga o Talosaga ma Iloiloga o Fanua ma Suafa,
ma tofiga ma lana puleaga faatatau i mataupu e faasino i suafa matai ma eleele faa-le-aganuu ua aiaia i lenei 'Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa' o le Faavae, po o se Tulafono a le Palemene.
(2) O Faamasinoga i lenei Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, e i ai puleaga faapitoa, na te puleaina se faiga faaletulafono ese ma e tu ese mai i Faamasinoga o Mataupu Tau le Va o Tagata ma Solitulafono o i ai i le Vaega VI; ma e i ai le puleaga toatasi faapitoa i mataupu tau i tu ma aganuu faa-Samoa ma Jo latou faaaogaina e faatatau i suafa matai ma eleele faa-le-aganuu.
(3) E agavaa tagata uma i le puipuiga o a latou aia tatau i aganuu faa-Samoa, o le mataupu autu o le puleaga a Faamasinoga i lenei Vaega. (Mataupu 104)
Customary Law
- English…
The State guarantees the right to individual or collective property, acquired in conformity to the law or to custom.
… (Art. 34) - French…
L’Etat garantit le droit à la propriété individuelle ou collective acquis conformément à la loi ou à la coutume.
… (Art. 34)
Customary Law
- English...
2. Any law that discriminates against women on the basis of gender or marital status shall be invalid and legislation shall be passed to eliminate customs and practices that discriminate against women, particularly practices such as—
a. sexual abuse, harassment and violence;
b. discrimination in work, business and public affairs; and
c. deprivation of property, including property obtained by inheritance. (Sec. 24)
Customary Law
- English…
(2) The social and cultural objective of the State shall be to build a civilized and egalitarian society by eliminating all forms of discrimination, exploitation and injustice on the grounds of religion, culture, tradition, usage, custom, practice or on any other similar grounds,
… (Art. 50) - Nepali…
(२) धर्म, संस्कृति, संस्कार, प्रथा, परम्परा, प्रचलन वा अन्य कुनै पनि आधारमा हुने सबै प्रकारका विभेद, शोषण र अन्यायको अन्त्य गरी सभ्य र समतामूलक समाजको निर्माण गर्ने राज्यको सामाजिक र सांस्कृतिक उद्देश्य हुनेछ ।
... (धारा ५०)
Customary Law
- EnglishNotwithstanding anything in this Constitution,—
(a) no Act of Parliament in respect of
(i) religious or social practices of the Mizos,
(ii) Mizo customary law and procedure.
(iii) administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law,
(iv) ownership and transfer of land,
shall apply to the State of Mizoram unless the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mizoram by a resolution so decides:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to any Central Act inforce in the Union territory of Mizoram immediately before the commencement of the Constitution (Fifty-third Amendment) Act, 1986;
… (Art. 371G) - Hindiइस संविधान में किसी बात के होते हुए भी,—
(क) निम्नलिखित के संबंध में संसद का कोई अधिनियम
(i) मिज़ो लोगों की धार्मिक या सामाजिक प्रथाएँ,
(ii) मिज़ो रूढ़िजन्य विधि और प्रक्रिया।
(iii) सिविल और दांडिक न्याय प्रशासन, जहां विनिश्चय मिज़ो रूढ़िजन्य विधि के अनुसार होने हैं,
(iv) भूमि का स्वामित्व और अंतरण,
मिजोरम राज्य को तब तक लागू नहीं होगा जब तक मिजोरम की विधान सभा संकल्प द्वारा ऐसा विनिश्चय नहीं करती है:
परंतु इस खंड की कोई बात, संविधान (तिरपनवाँ संशोधन) अधिनियम, 1986 के प्रारंभ से ठीक पहले मिजोरम संघ राज्यक्षेत्र में प्रवृत्त किसी केंद्रीय अधिनियम को लागू नहीं होगी;
… (अनुच्छेद 371छ)
Customary Law
- English…
(4) Female circumcision is a cruel and degrading customary practice, and is tantamount to torture. The circumcision of girls is prohibited.
… (Art. 15) - Somali…
(4) Gudniinka gabdhaha waa caado naxariis-darro iyo xaqiraad u dhiganta jirdil. Gudniinka gabdhaha waa reeban yahay.
… (Qodobka 15aad.)
Customary Law
- English… The Guarantors’ Panel shall:
a) verify the conformity of laws, of regulations having force of law, as well as of customary rules having force of law, with the fundamental principles of the constitutional order
… (Art. 16) - Italian… Il Collegio Garante:
a) verifica, … la rispondenza delle leggi, degli atti aventi forza di legge a contenuto normativo, nonché delle norme anche consuetudinarie aventi forza di legge, ai principi fondamentali dell'ordinamento di cui alla presente legge o da questa richiamati;
… (Art. 16)
Customary Law
- English…
Communities composed of an indigenous people, [are] those that form a social, economic and cultural unity, living in a territory and that recognized their own authorities in accordance with their habits [usos] and customs.
…
A. This Constitution recognizes and guarantees the right of indigenous peoples and communities to self-determination and, consequently, to the autonomy to:
…
II. Apply their own normative systems in the regulation and solution of their internal conflicts, subject to the general principles of this Constitution, respecting individual guarantees, human rights and, in relevant manner, the dignity and integrity of women. The law will establish the cases and procedures of validation by the corresponding judges or courts.
III. Elect according to their traditional norms, procedures and practices, the authorities or representatives for the exercise of their own forms of internal government, guaranteeing that indigenous women and men will enjoy and will exercise their right to vote and to be voted for in conditions of equality; as well as to accede to and to hold the public offices [cargos] and [offices] of public election for those that have been elected or designated, in a framework [that] respects the federal pact, the sovereignty of the States and the autonomy of the City of Mexico. In no case may communitarian practices limit the political electoral rights of [masculine and feminine] citizens in the election of their municipal authorities.
…
VIII. Accede fully to jurisdictions of the State. To guarantee this right, in all the trials and proceedings in which they are parties, individually or collectively, their cultural customs and specifications must be taken into account respecting the precepts of this Constitution. The indigenous peoples have at all times the right to be assisted by interpreters and defenders who have knowledge of their language and culture.
… (Art. 2) - Spanish…
Son comunidades integrantes de un pueblo indígena, aquellas que formen una unidad social, económica y cultural, asentadas en un territorio y que reconocen autoridades propias de acuerdo con sus usos y costumbres.
…
A. Esta Constitución reconoce y garantiza el derecho de los pueblos y las comunidades indígenas a la libre determinación y, en consecuencia, a la autonomía para:
…
II. Aplicar sus propios sistemas normativos en la regulación y solución de sus conflictos internos, sujetándose a los principios generales de esta Constitución, respetando las garantías individuales, los derechos humanos y, de manera relevante, la dignidad e integridad de las mujeres. La ley establecerá los casos y procedimientos de validación por los jueces o tribunales correspondientes.
III. Elegir de acuerdo con sus normas, procedimientos y practices tradicionales, a las autoridades o representantes para el ejercicio de sus formas propias de gobierno interno, garantizando que las mujeres y los hombres indígenas disfrutarán y ejercerán su derecho de votar y ser votados en condiciones de igualdad; así como a acceder y desempeñar los cargos públicos y de elección popular para los que hayan sido electos o designados, en un marco que respite el pacto federal, la soberanía de los Estados y la autonomía de la Ciudad de México. En ningún caso las prácticas comunitarias podrán limitar los derechos político-electorales de los y las ciudadanas en la elección de sus autoridades municipales.
…
VIII. Acceder plenamente a la jurisdicción del Estado. Para garantizar ese derecho, en todos los juicios y procedimientos en que sean parte, individual o colectivamente, se deberán tomar en cuenta sus costumbres y especificidades culturales respetando los preceptos de esta Constitución. Los indígenas tienen en todo tiempo el derecho a ser asistidos por intérpretes y defensores que tengan conocimiento de su lengua y cultura.
… (Art. 2)