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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...
(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
- English1. The Communal Chambers shall, in relation to their respective Community, have competence to exercise within the limits of this Constitution and subject to paragraph 3 of this Article, legislative power solely with regard to the following matters:—
…
c. personal status;
d. The composition and instances (βαθμούς δικαιοδοσίας - dereceleri) of courts dealing with civil disputes relating to personal status and to religious matters;
… (Art. 87) - GreekΕκατέρα Κοινοτική Συνέλευσις έχει αρμοδιότητα, εν σχέσει προς την αντίστοιχον κοινότητα, να ασκεί, ενός των ορίων του Συντάγματος και υπό τους περιορισμούς της τρίτης παραγράφου του παρόντος άρθρου, νομοθετικήν εξουσίαν αποκλειστικώς και μόνον επί των κατωτέρω θεμάτων:
…
(γ) επί του προσωπικού θεσμού,
(δ) επί της συνθέσεως και των βαθμών δικαιοδοσίας των δικαστηρίων, των εκδικαζόντων αστικάς διαφοράς, αναφερομένας εις τον προσωπικόν θεσμόν και εις θρησκευτικά ζητήματα,
… (Αρθρον 87) - Turkish1. Topluluk odaları, kendi Topluluklarıyla ilgili olarak, bu Anayasanın sınırları dahilinde ve bu maddenin 3. paragrafına tabi olarak, yalnızca AŞAĞIDAKİLERLE ilgili yasama yetkisine sahip olacaktır matters:-
...
c. kişisel durum;
d. kişisel statü ve dini konularla ilgili medeni uyuşmazlıklarla ilgilenen mahkemelerin bileşimi ve örnekleri;
...(Madde 87)
Customary Law
- English
The State pursues the policy of promoting unity and equality among all ethnic groups. All ethnic groups have the right to protect, preserve and promote the fine customs and cultures of their own and of the nation. All acts creating division and discrimination among ethnic groups are prohibited.
… (Art. 8) - Lao
ລັດ ປະຕິບັດນະໂຍບາຍສາມັກຄີ ແລະ ສະເໝີພາບ ລະຫວ່າງຊົນເຜົ່າຕ່າງໆ. ທຸກຊົນເຜົ່າລ້ວນແຕ່ມີສິດປົກປັກຮັກສາ, ເສີມຂະຫຍາຍຮີດຄອງປະເພນີ ແລະ ວັດທະນະທຳອັນດີງາມຂອງຕົນແລະ ຂອງຊາດ. ຫ້າມທຸກການກະທຳທີ່ເປັນການແບ່ງແຍກ ແລະ ການປະພຶດທີ່ເປັນການຈຳແນກ ລະຫວ່າງຊົນເຜົ່າ.
… (ມາດຕາ. 8)
Customary Law
- EnglishThe Senate shall consist of the twenty-two Principal Chiefs and eleven other Senators nominated in that behalf by the King acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State: … (Sec. 55)
Customary Law
- English...
2. Every person who is charged with a criminal offence—...
d. shall unless legal aid is granted him in accordance with the law enacted by Parliament for such purpose be permitted to defend himself before the court in person, or at his own expense, by a legal representative of his own choice;
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12. Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of—
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b. paragraph (d) of clause (2) to the extent that it is shown that the law in question prohibits legal representation before a subordinate court in proceedings for an offence under Zambian customary law, being proceedings against any person who, under that law, is subject to that law;
… (Art. 18)
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.
…
(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-
…
(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
Customary Law
- English
The administration of justice guarantees the principle of legality; it protects [protege] and protects [tutela] the human rights, and guarantees the access to justice through the application of the law in the matters and processes of its competence.
The administration of justice recognizes citizen participation through the traditional leaders of the original Peoples of the Caribbean Coast and the Judicial Facilitators [Facilitadores Judiciales] in all the country, as alternative methods of access to justice and alternative resolution of conflicts, all in accordance with the law.
... (Art. 160) - Spanish
La administración de la justicia garantiza el principio de la legalidad; protege y tutela los derechos humanos, y garantiza el acceso a la justicia mediante la aplicación de la ley en los asuntos o procesos de su competencia.
La administración de justicia reconoce la participación ciudadana a través de los líderes tradicionales de los pueblos originarios de la Costa Caribe y los Facilitadores Judiciales en todo el país, como métodos alternos de acceso a la justicia y resolución alterna de conflictos, todo de conformidad con la ley.
… (Art. 160)
Customary Law
- English…
The people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and to preserve or reform their own ways and customs. (Art. 4) - Chinese…
各民族都有使用和发展自己的语言文字的自由,都有保持或者改革自己的风俗习惯的自由 (第四条)
Customary Law
- English1. The Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs has a general competence to discuss all matters relating relating to land, custom and tradition and may make recommendations for the preservation and promotion of ni-Vanuatu culture and languages.
2. The Council must be consulted on any question, particularly any question relating to land, tradition and custom, in connection with any bill before Parliament. (Art. 30) - French1) Le Conseil des Chefs Malvatumauri est compétent dans tous les domaines relatifs à la terre, coutume et à la tradition. Il peut faire des recommandations concernant la protection et la promotion de la culture et des langues vanuatuanes.
2) Le Conseil doit être consulté, sur toute question se rapportant à un projet de législation du Parlement, et en particulier celles relatives à la terre, tradition et à la coutume. (Art. 30)
Customary Law
- English(1) Traditional leaders have the following functions within their areas of jurisdiction—
(a) to promote and uphold cultural values of their communities and, in particular, to promote sound family values;
(b) to take measures to preserve the culture, traditions, history and heritage of their communities, including sacred shrines;
(c) to facilitate development;
(d) in accordance with an Act of Parliament, to administer Communal Land and to protect the environment;
(e) to resolve disputes amongst people in their communities in accordance with customary law; and
(f) to exercise any other functions conferred or imposed on them by an Act of Parliament.
(2) Except as provided in an Act of Parliament, traditional leaders have authority, jurisdiction and control over the Communal Land or other areas for which they have been appointed, and over persons within those Communal Lands or areas.
(3) In the performance of their functions, traditional leaders are not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority, except as may be prescribed in an Act of Parliament.
(4) An Act of Parliament must provide for the regulation of the conduct of traditional leaders. (Sec. 282)