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Customary Law
- English(1) In this Constitution, unless it is otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires:
…
"Law" means any law for the time being in force in Samoa; and includes this Constitution, any Act of Parliament and any proclamation, regulation, order, by-law or other act of authority made thereunder, the English common law and equity for the time being in so far as they are not excluded by any other law in force in Samoa, and any custom or usage which has acquired the force of law in Samoa or any part thereof under the provisions of any Act or under a judgement of a Court of competent jurisdiction:
… (Art. 111) - Samoan(1) I lenei Faavae, vagana ai ua ese ona aiaia po o le ese ai le aano e manaomia:
…
“Tulafono” o lona uiga o so o se tulafono ua faamamaluina mo lenei vaitaimi i Samoa; ma e aofia ai lenei Faavae, so o se Tulafono a le Palemene ma so o se faaaliga faasalalau, tulafono faatonutonu, poloaiga, tulafono-iti po o se tasi tulafono o le pulega faavae ua faia ai i ina, tulafono tau le aganuu a Egelani ma le faamasinoga tonu tau le loto fuatiaifo o lo o faaaogaina mo lenei taimi i se tulaga e oo atu i ai pe afai e le o tuuesea e se tasi lava tulafono o lo o faamamaluina i Samoa, ma so o se tu ma aganuu ua i ai le malosi faapei o le tulafono i totonu o Samoa, po o se tasi o ona vaega i lalo o aiaiga o so o se tasi o Tulafono po o lalo o se faaiuga a se Faamasinoga tau le puleaga tomai;
… (Mataupu 111)
Customary Law
- English(1) Freedom based on law consists of the least restriction on the activities of individuals consistent with the public welfare and the maintenance and development of Tuvalu and Tuvaluan society in accordance with this Constitution and, in particular, in accordance with the Principles set out in the Preamble.
(2) Everyone has the right to freedom based on law, and accordingly, subject to this Constitution -
(a) everyone has the legal right to do anything that —
(i) does not injure others or interfere with the rights and freedoms of others; and
(ii) is not prohibited by law; and
(b) no-one may be -
(i) legally obliged to do anything that is not required by law; or
(ii) prevented by law from doing anything that complies with the provisions of paragraph (a).
(3) This section is not intended to deny the existence, nature or effect of cultural, social, civic, family or religious obligations, or other obligations of a nonlegal nature, or to prevent such obligations being given effect by law if, and so far as, it may be thought appropriate to do so. (Sec. 10)
Customary Law
- English1. Parliament by enactment shall formalise the recognition of appropriate customary institutions or procedures to resolve land ownership or any disputes over custom land.
2. Parliament may recognise an institution as a customary institution by enactment for the purposes of subarticle (1).
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5. Where consequent to the provisions of this Chapter there is a dispute concerning the custom ownership of land the government may hold such land and manage it in the interests of disputing parties until the dispute is resolved. (Art. 78) - French1) Le Parlement formalise par la Loi la reconnaissance d’une institution coutumière compétente ou d’une procédure pertinente pour résoudre la question de propriété foncière ou tout litige lié aux terres coutumières.
2) Le Parlement peut, par la loi, reconnaître une institution coutumière aux fins du paragraphe 1).
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5) Lorsque l’application des dispositions du présent Titre entraîne un litige concernant la propriété coutumière d’une terre, l’État peut sur accord des parties au litige détenir et gérer cette terre au profit des parties au litige jusqu’à la résolution du litige. (Art. 78)
Customary Law
- English(1) The Traditional Rights Court shall be a court of record; shall consist of panels of 3 or more judges selected so as to include a fair representation of all classes of land rights,9 including, where applicable, the Iroijiaplap, Iroijedrik, Alap and Dri Jerbal; and shall sit at such times and places and be chosen on such a geographical basis, as to ensure fair and knowledgeable exercise of the jurisdiction conferred by this Section.
(2) The size, membership and procedures of the Traditional Rights Court shall be consistent with paragraph (1) of this Section, and shall be determined by the High Court unless and until the Nitijela makes provision for those matters by Act.
(3) The jurisdiction of the Traditional Rights Court shall be limited to the determination of questions relating to titles or to land rights or to other legal interests depending wholly or partly on customary law and traditional practice in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
(4) The jurisdiction of the Traditional Rights Court may be invoked as of right upon application by a party to a pending judicial proceeding; but only if the court in which such proceeding is pending certifies that a substantial question has arisen within the jurisdiction of the Traditional Rights Court.
(5) When a question has been certified to the Traditional Rights Court for its determination under paragraph (4), its resolution of the question shall be given substantial weight in the certifying court’s disposition of the legal controversy before it; but shall not be deemed binding unless the certifying court concludes that justice so requires. (Art. VI, Sec. 4)
Customary Law
- English(1) Parliament shall make provision for the application of laws, including customary laws.
(2) In making provision under this section, Parliament shall have particular regard to the customs, values and aspirations of the people of Solomon Islands. (Sec. 75)
Customary Law
- English
(1) The Preamble acknowledges that Tuvalu is an Independent State based on Christian principles, the Rule of Law, Tuvaluan values, culture and tradition, and respect for human dignity.
(2) This includes recognition of-
(a) the right to worship, or not to worship, in whatever way the conscience of the individual tells him; and
(b) the right to hold, to receive and to communicate opinions, ideas and information.
(3) Within Tuvalu, the freedoms of the individual can only be exercised having regard to the rights or feelings of other people, the Charter of Duties and Responsibilities in section 43 and to the effect on society.
(4) It may therefore be necessary in certain circumstances to regulate or place some restrictions on the exercise of those rights, if their exercise—
(a) may be divisive, unsettling or offensive to the people; or
(b) may directly threaten Tuvaluan values or culture.
(5) Subject to section 15 (definition of “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society”) nothing contained in a law or done under a law shall be considered to be inconsistent with section 23 (freedom of belief); or section 24 (freedom of expression); or section 25 (freedom of assembly and association); or section 26 (freedom of movement); or section 27 (freedom from discrimination) to the extent the law makes provision regulating or placing restrictions on any exercise of the right-
(a) to spread beliefs; or
(b) to communicate opinions, ideas and information;
(c) to assemble and associate with others;
(d) to move freely or reside within Tuvalu or to enter and to leave Tuvalu; or
(e) to not be discriminated against;
if the exercise of that right may otherwise conflict with subsection (4). (Sec. 29)