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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
- 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(1) The President shall appoint a District Seyfo in consultation with the Minister responsible for Local Government.
(2) The Minister responsible for Local Government may, in consultation with the Regional Governors, make recommendations to the National assembly for the creation of new Seyfo Districts. (Sec. 58)
Customary Law
- English
...
3. While believing that Tuvalu must take its rightful place amongst the community of nations in search of peace and the general welfare, nevertheless the people of Tuvalu recognize and affirm, with gratitude to God, that the stability of Tuvaluan society and the happiness and welfare of the people of Tuvalu, both present and future, depend very largely on the maintenance of Tuvaluan values, culture and tradition, including the vitality and the sense of identity of island communities and attitudes of co-operation, self-help and unity within and amongst those communities.
4. Amongst the values that we the people of Tuvalu seek to maintain are those embodied in our traditional forms of community, the Falekaupule, and the strength and support of the family and family discipline.
5. In government, and in social affairs generally, the guiding principles of Tuvalu are
- agreement, courtesy and the search for consensus, in accordance with traditional Tuvaluan procedures, rather than alien ideas of confrontation and divisiveness;
- the need for mutual respect and co-operation between the different kinds of authorities concerned, including the central Government, the traditional authorities, local governments and authorities, and the religious authorities.
6. Therefore, the life and the laws of Tuvalu should be based on respect for Christian principles, Tuvaluan values and culture, the Rule of Law and human dignity.
7. The people of Tuvalu recognize that in a changing world, and with changing needs, the manner and form of the expression of these principles and values may change, but the Constitution must recognise their fundamental importance to the life of Tuvalu and, where necessary, reinforce them.
… (Principles of the Constitution)7
Customary Law
- English1. A communal law made by the Communal Chamber concerned shall, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, provide for the establishment, composition and jurisdiction of courts to deal with civil disputes relating to personal status and to religious matters which are reserved for the competence of the Communal Chambers by the provisions of this Constitution.
…
3. Any such court as aforesaid in the exercise of its jurisdiction, shall apply the laws made by the Communal Chamber concerned: Provided that nothing in this paragraph contained shall preclude a court of the Republic from applying in a case, where an issue relating to personal status or to religious matters is raised incidentally, the relevant communal law. (Art. 160) - Greek1. Tηρουμένων των διατάξεων του Συντάγματος, κοινοτικός νόμος, ψηφιζόμενος υπό Kοινοτικής Συνελεύσεως, θέλει προβλέψει περί της ιδρύσεως, της συνθέσεως και της δικαιοδοσίας δικαστηρίων, άτινα θα δικάζωσι τας αστικάς διαφοράς, τας αφορώσας εις τον προσωπικόν θεσμόν και εις θρησκευτικά ζητήματα, τα οποία υπάγονται κατά τας διατάξεις του Συντάγματος εις την αρμοδιότητα των Kοινοτικών Συνελεύσεων.
…
3. Eν τη ενασκήσει της δικαιοδοσίας αυτών τα ανωτέρω δικαστήρια εφαρμόζουσι τούς υπέρ της οικείας Kοινοτικής Συνελεύσεως ψηφιζομένους νόμους’ αι διατάξεις όμως της παραγράφου ταύτης δεν αποκλείουσι το δικαίωμα δικαστηρίου της Δημοκρατίας να εφαρμόση τον σχετικόν κοινοτικόν νόμον επί υποθέσεως, καθ’ ην παρεμπιπτόντως εγείρεται ζήτημα προσωπικού θεσμού ή θρησκευτικόν ζήτημα. (Αρθρον 160) - Turkish1. Shall ilgili Ortak Ticaret Odası tarafından yapılan ortak bir kanunu, bu Anayasa hükümleri, kuruluş, kişisel durum ve Cemaat meclisleri yeterliliği için bu Anayasa hükümlerine göre ayrılmış olan dini konularla ilgili sivil anlaşmazlıklar ile başa çıkmak için mahkemelerin, kompozisyon ve yargı sağlar.
…
3. Bu paragrafta yer alan hiçbir şey, Cumhuriyet Mahkemesinin, kişisel statü veya dini konularla ilgili bir sorunun tesadüfen ortaya çıktığı bir davada başvurmasını engellememesi koşuluyla, ilgili Topluluk Yasası tarafından yapılan yasaları uygulayacaktır. (Madde 160)
Customary Law
- English1. Subject to clauses (4), (5) and (7), no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
…
3. In this Article the expression “discriminatory” means affording different treatment to different persons attributable, wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, tribe, sex, place of origin, marital status, political opinions, colour or creed 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. Clause (1) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
…
c. with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
d. for the application in the case of members of a particular race or tribe, of customary law with respect to any matter to the exclusion of any law with respect to that matter which is applicable in the case of other persons;
… (Art. 23)
Customary Law
- English1. There is established a House of Chiefs.
2. The House of Chiefs shall consist of five chiefs from each province, elected by the chiefs in a Province, as prescribed.
3. The members of the House of Chiefs shall annually elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the House of Chiefs, from amongst themselves.
4. Notwithstanding clause (3), the assumption of office as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the House of Chiefs shall rotate annually amongst the chiefs from each province.
5. The functions of the House of Chiefs are to —
a. consider and discuss a Bill relating to custom or tradition referred to it by the President, before the Bill is introduced into the National Assembly;
b. initiate, discuss and make recommendations to the National Assembly regarding socio-economic development in the Province;
c. initiate, discuss and decide on matters relating to customary law and practice;
d. initiate, discuss and make recommendations to a local authority regarding the welfare of communities in a local authority;
e. make proposals on areas in customary law that require codification;
f. advise the Government on traditional and customary matters; and
g. perform other functions as prescribed. (Art. 169)
Customary Law
- EnglishA person and a community shall have the right to:
1. conserve, revive or promote wisdom, arts, culture, tradition and good customs at both local and national levels;
… (Sec. 43) - Thaiบุคคลและชุมชนย่อมมีสิทธิ
(๑) อนุรักษ์ ฟื้นฟู หรือส่งเสริมภูมิปัญญา ศิลปะ วัฒนธรรม ขนบธรรมเนียม และจารีตประเพณีอันดีงามทั้งของท้องถิ่นและของชาติ
… (มาตรา ๔๓)
Customary Law
- English
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, customs may be taken into account in all courts under this Part. (Art. 71)
- Samoan
I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i aiaiga o lenei Faavae, o aganuu e mafai ona amanaia i faamasinoga uma i lalo o lenei Vaega. (Mataupu 71)
Customary Law
- English...
b. There shall be elections of Paramount, Clan and Town Chiefs by the registered voters in their respective localities, to serve for a term of six years. They may be re-elected and may be removed only by the President for proved misconduct. The Legislature shall enact laws to provide for their qualifications as may be required. (Art. 56)