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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(1) Subject to this paragraph, customary law shall have effect as part of the law of Solomon Islands.
(2) The preceding subparagraph shall not apply in respect of any customary law that is, and to the extent that it is, inconsistent with this Constitution or an Act of Parliament.
(3) An Act of Parliament may:-
(a) provide for the proof and pleading of customary law for any purpose;
(b) regulate the manner in which or the purposes for which customary law may be recognised; and
(c) provide for the resolution of conflicts of customary law.
… (Schedule 3, Sec. 3)
Customary Law
- English1. Parliament may provide for the manner of the ascertainment of relevant rules of custom except for the rules of custom relating to ownership of custom land, and may in particular provide for persons knowledgeable in such custom to sit with the judges of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal and take part in its proceedings.
... (Art. 51) - French1) Le Parlement peut prévoir la façon de vérifier des règles coutumières pertinentes sauf pour les règles coutumières relatives à la propriété des terres coutumières et peut en particulier permettre à des personnes connaissant bien une coutume donnée de siéger avec les juges de la Cour suprême ou de la Cour d’appel et participer à ses procédures.
... (Art. 51)
Customary Law
- English(1) Subject to this Part, the principles and rules that formed, immediately before Independence Day, the principles and rules of common law and equity in England are adopted, and shall be applied and enforced, as part of the underlying law, except if, and to the extent that-
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(c) in their application to any particular matter they are inconsistent with custom as adopted by Part I. (Schedule 2.2)
Customary Law
- English(1) There shall be a Council of Iroij of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
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(3) If, in any district, a person or group of persons becomes recognized, pursuant to the customary law8 or to any traditional practice, as having rights and obligations analogous to those of Iroijlaplap, that person, or a member of that group nominated by the group, shall be deemed to be eligible to be a member of the Council of Iroij as though he were an Iroijlaplap.
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(5) If, in the case of any district, there is for any reason no person eligible to be a member of the Council of Iroij in accordance with paragraphs (2) or (3) of this Section, the Council of Iroij shall as soon as practicable proceed, by resolution, to appoint as a member of the Council a person who, in the opinion of the Council, having regard to the customary law and any traditional practice, is qualified by reason of his family ties to a person who, but for that reason, would have been eligible to be a member of the Council from that district.
… (Art. III, Sec. 1)
Customary Law
- English(1) In this Constitution, unless it is otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires:
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"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:
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“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
- EnglishCourt decisions shall be consistent with this Constitution, Micronesian customs and traditions, and the social and geographical configuration of Micronesia. In rendering a decision a court shall consult and apply sources of the Federated States of Micronesia. (Art. XI, Sec. 11)
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
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"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)
Customary Law
- English
WE, the People of Tuvalu: -
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CELEBRATING our distinct culture and tradition influenced mainly by people of Polynesian descent;
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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)
Customary Law
- English
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (5), (6) and (9) of this section, no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect.
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(4) In this section, the expression "discriminatory" means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed or sex 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.
(5) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision-
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(c) for the application, in the case of persons of any such description as is mentioned in the preceding subsection (or of persons connected with such persons), of the law with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other like matters that is the personal law applicable to persons of that description;
(d) for the application of customary law;
… (Sec. 15)8