Constitution of Tuvalu 1986, as amended to 2023
Religious Law
  • English

    WE, the People of Tuvalu: -
    ...
    REJOICING in the coming of Christianity to our home;
    AFFIRMING our identity as a Christian nation;
    ...
    ACKNOWLEDGING God as the Almighty and Everlasting Lord and Giver of all good things, humbly placing ourselves under His good providence, and seeking His blessing upon us and our lives;
    REAFFIRMING our desire to constitute ourselves as a free and democratic sovereign nation based on Christian Principles, Tuvaluan values and culture and the Rule of Law; 
    … (Preamble)

Religious Law
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    2. Our right as the people of Tuvalu both present and future, to a full, free and secure life, and to moral, spiritual, personal and material welfare, is affirmed as one given to us by God.
    … 
    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.
    ... (Principles of the Constitution)

Religious Law
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    (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.
    … (Sec. 29)
Religious Law
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    (2) Under this Constitution every person has the following fundamental duties and responsibilities to themselves, their dependents, and others –
    (a) to respect society, communities, islands, leaders, and cultural practices and norms; to know their duties and roles in society despite different religious beliefs and practices, ... 
    (b) to uphold the Christian principles of a family unit, ...
    (c) in the case of parents, to care for and not neglect their children, and to teach children to uphold their duties, Tuvaluan ways of life, and Christian principles;
    ...
    (f) in the case of religious leaders, to respect Island Community customs and traditions, to unite and contribute to communities, to help their religious group, to help to improve the lives of all people, to love and respect all people, and to respect the different religions of others;
    (g) In the case of leaders, to respect Island Community customs and traditions; to encourage Christian principles; to bring peace and harmony, unity, and respect to the island, different religious groups, men, women, youth, and children, 
    ... (Sec. 43)

Customary Law
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    … AND WHEREAS the people of Tuvalu desire to constitute themselves as an independent State based on Christian principles, the Rule of Law, and Tuvaluan custom and tradition; … (Preamble)
Customary Law
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    ...
    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
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    (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
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    1. Every person in Tuvalu is entitled, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs, disability, or sex, to the following fundamental rights and freedoms:-
    ...
    (2) The rights and freedoms referred to in subsection (1) can, in Tuvaluan society, be exercised only –
    ...
    (b) in acceptance of Tuvaluan values and culture, and with respect for them.
    … (Sec. 11)

Customary Law
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    ...
    (2) Except in relation to any act that is done under a valid law which accords with traditional standards, values and practices, any act that is done under a valid law but that in the particular case —
    (a) is harsh or oppressive; or
    (b) is not reasonable in the circumstances; or
    (c) is otherwise not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society having a proper respect for human rights and dignity, is an unlawful act.
    (3) The burden of showing that subsection (2) applies in respect of an act is on the party claiming that it does apply.
    (4) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any other law under which an act may be held to be unlawful. (Sec. 12)
Customary Law
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    ...
    (5) In determining whether a law or act is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society that has a proper respect for human rights and dignity, a court may have regard to —
    (a) traditional standards, values and practices, as well as previous laws and judicial decisions, of Tuvalu;

    (6) Notwithstanding subsection (5), any law, or any act done under a valid law, which accords with traditional standards, values and practices shall not contravene subsection (1) above, unless the relevant traditional standard, value or practice would be regarded by a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of two-thirds of the total membership as one which should be eliminated. (Sec. 15)

Customary Law
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    (1) In this section, discrimination refers to the treatment of different people in different ways wholly or mainly because of their different
    (a) races; or
    (b) places of origin; or
    (c) political opinions; or
    (d) colours; or
    (e) religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs, or
    (f) disability; or
    (g) sex
    in such a way that one such person is for some such reason given more favourable treatment or less favourable treatment than another such person.
    (2) Subject to the provisions of this Part , and in particular to - ...
    (a) the succeeding provisions of this section; and
    (b) section 29 (Protection of Tuvaluan values, etc.); and
    (c) section 31 (disciplined forces of Tuvalu); and
    (d) section 32 (foreign disciplined forces); and
    (e) section 33 (hostile disciplined forces); and
    (f) section 36 (restrictions on certain rights and freedoms during public emergencies),
    no-one shall be treated in a discriminatory manner.
    (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a law so far as it makes provision –

    (d) in respect of-
    (i) adoption: or
    (ii) marriage; or
    (iii) divorce; or
    (iv) burial; or
    (v) any other such matter,
    in accordance with the personal law, beliefs or customs of any person or group;

    (7) Subject to section 12(2) (which relates to harsh, oppressive or otherwise unlawful acts) and 15 (definition of “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society”) and to any other law, no act that —
    (a) is in accordance with Tuvaluan custom;

    shall be considered to be inconsistent with subsection (2).
    … (Sec. 27)

Customary Law
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    (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)

Customary Law
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    (2) Under this Constitution every person has the following fundamental duties and responsibilities to themselves, their dependents, and others –
    (a) to respect society, communities, islands, leaders, and cultural practices and norms; to know their duties and roles in society despite different religious beliefs and practices, 
    ...
    (c) in the case of parents, to care for and not neglect their children, and to teach children to uphold their duties, Tuvaluan ways of life, and Christian principles;
    ...
    (f) in the case of religious leaders, to respect Island Community customs and traditions, ...
    (g) In the case of leaders, to respect Island Community customs and traditions; 
    ... (Sec. 43)

Customary Law
  • English

    The role of the 'Falekaupule', as the island traditional governing authority on each of the islands of Tuvalu, is hereby recognized. The 'Falekaupule' derives its authority from the island's culture, traditions and values and an Act of Parliament. (Sec. 140)

Customary Law
  • English


    "the Falekaupule” means the traditional governing assembly in each island of Tuvalu which is composed in accordance with the aganu (i.e., the traditional local customs and usages) of each island and established under section 4 of the Falekaupule Act 1997;
    ... (Schedule 1, Sec. 1)

Links to all sites last visited 12 April 2024
2
Part II on Bill of Rights. 
3

Part II on Bill of Rights. 

4, 5

4 - Division 5 on Enforcement of the Bill of Rights (Sections 38-42).
5 - Part II on Bill of Rights.

6
Part II on Bill of Rights. 
7

Also refer to Sec. 13: “The Principles set out in the Preamble are adopted as part of the basic law of Tuvalu, from which human rights and freedoms derive and on which they are based.”