Seychelles

We, the People of Seychelles, …
RECOGNISING the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of members of the human family as the foundation for freedom, justice, welfare, fraternity, peace and unity;
…
SOLEMNLY DECLARING our unswaying commitment, during this our Third Republic, to …
• uphold the rule of law based on the recognition of the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in this Constitution and on respect for the equality and dignity of human beings;
… (Preamble)

We, the People of Seychelles, …
SOLEMNLY DECLARING our unswaying commitment, during this our Third Republic, to …
• exercise our individual rights and freedoms with due regard to the rights and freedoms of others and the common interest;
… (Preamble)

This Chapter⁵ shall not be interpreted so as to confer on any person or group the right to engage in any activity aimed at the suppression of a right or freedom contained in the Charter⁶. (Art. 45)

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires−
…
c. “person” means an individual or a body corporate;
… (Art. 49)

(1) A person who claims that a provision of this Charter⁷ has been or is likely to be contravened in relation to the person by any law, act or omission may, subject to this article, apply to the Constitutional Court for redress.
(2) An application under clause (1) may, where the Constitutional Court is satisfied that the person whose right or freedom has been or is likely to be contravened is unable to do so, be made by another person acting on behalf of that person, with or without that person’s authority.
(3) The Constitutional Court may decline to entertain an application under clause (1) where the Court is satisfied that the applicant has obtained redress for the contravention under any law and where the applicant has obtained redress in the Constitutional Court for any matter for which an application may be made under clause (1), a court shall not entertain any application for redress for such matter except on appeal from a decision of such court.
(4) Where the Constitutional Court on an application under clause (1) is satisfied that adequate means of redress for the contravention alleged are or have been available to the person concerned in any other court under any other law, the Court may hear the application or transfer the application to the appropriate court for grant of redress in accordance with law.
(5) Upon hearing of an application under clause (1) the Constitutional Court may−
(a) declare any act or omission which is the subject of the application to be a contravention of the Charter;
(b) declare any law or the provision of any law which contravenes the Charter void;
(c) make such declaration or order, issue such writ and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of enforcing or securing the enforcement of the Charter and disposing of all the issues relating to the application;
(d) award any damages for the purpose of compensating the person concerned for any damages suffered;
(e) make such additional order under this Constitution or as may be prescribed by law.
…
(7) Where in the course of any proceedings in any court, other than the Constitutional Court or the Court of Appeal, a question arises with regard to whether there has been or is likely to be a contravention of the Charter, the court shall, if it is satisfied that the question is not frivolous or vexatious or has already been the subject of a decision of the Constitutional Court or the Court of Appeal, immediately adjourn the proceedings and refer the question for determination by the Constitutional Court.
(8) Where in an application under clause (1) or where a matter is referred to the Constitutional Court under clause (7), the person alleging the contravention or risk of contravention establishes a prima facie case, the burden of proving that there has not been a contravention or risk of contravention shall, where the allegation is against the State, be on the State.
… (Art. 46)

This Chapter⁸ shall be interpreted in such a way so as not to be inconsistent with any international obligations of Seychelles relating to human rights and freedoms and a court shall, when interpreting the provision of this Chapter, take judicial notice of−
(a) the international instruments containing these obligations;
(b) the reports and expression of views of bodies administering or enforcing these instruments;
(c) the reports, decisions or opinions of international and regional institutions administering or enforcing Conventions on human rights and freedoms;
(d) the Constitutions of other democratic States or nations and decisions of the courts of the States or nations in respect of their Constitutions. (Art. 48)

(1) There shall be an Ombudsman who shall be appointed by the President from candidates proposed by the constitutional Appointments Authority.
… (Art. 143)

(1) Subject to this Schedule, the Ombudsman may
(a) investigate an action taken by a public authority or the President, Vice-President, Minister, officer or member of the public authority, being action taken in the exercise of the administrative functions of the public authority in the circumstances specified in subparagraph (2);
(b) investigate an allegation of fraud or corruption in connection with the exercise by a person of a function of a public authority.
(c) assist an individual complainant in respect of legal proceedings in relation to a contravention of the provisions of the Charter⁹;
(d) with leave of the Court hearing proceedings relating to a contravention of the provisions of the Charter, become a party to the proceedings;
(e) initiate proceedings relating to the constitutionality of a law or of the provisions of a law.
(2)The Ombudsman shall investigate an action under sub-para-graph (1)(a)-
(a) where the Ombudsman receives a complaint from a person or body alleging that the complainant has suffered a violation of the complainant’s fundamental rights or freedoms under the Charter, or an injustice, in consequence of a fault in the administration of a public authority or has been treated harshly or oppressively by the authority or the President, Vice-President or a Minister, officer or member of the authority in the exercise of the administrative functions of the authority;
(b) where the President, Vice-President or a Minister or member of the National Assembly requests the Ombudsman to investigate the action on the ground that the person or body specified in the request-
(i) has or may have suffered a violation of the person’s or body’s fundamental rights for freedoms under the Charter, or an injustice, in consequence of a fault in the administration of a public authority or of a fault of the President or Vice-President or a Minister, officer or member of the authority in the exercise of the administrative functions of the authority;
(ii) has been treated harshly or oppressively by the authority or the President or Vice-President or a Minister, officer or member of the authority in the exercise of the administrative functions of the authority,/or on the ground that the practices or patterns of conduct of a public authority or the President or Vice-President or a Minister, officer or member of the authority in the exercise of the administrative functions of the authority appear to result in injustices or harsh, oppressive or unfair administration; or
(c) where the Ombudsman considers that it is necessary to investigate the action on the grounds specified in subsubparagraph (b), and an allegation under subparagraph (1) (b).
… (Schedule 5, Art. 1)