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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
- English1. The twenty-two offices of Principal Chief set out in Schedule 2 to this Constitution and the other offices of Chief recognised under the law in force immediately before the commencement of this Constitution shall continue to exist.
2. Parliament may make provision for the regulation of offices of chief.
3. Each Chief shall have such functions as are conferred on him by this Constitution or by or under any other law. (Sec. 103)
Customary Law
- English(1) Subject to the provisions of this article -
(a) no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect; and
(b) no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person acting by virtue of any written law or in the performance of the functions of any public office or any public authority.
(2) In this article the expression ‘discriminatory’ means affording different treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to their or their parents’ or guardians’ respective descriptions by race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, age, disability, marital status, sex, gender, language, birth, social class, pregnancy, religion, conscience, belief or culture whereby persons of one such description are subjected to disabilities or restrictions to which other persons of the same or another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or advantages which are not afforded to persons of another such description.
(3) Paragraph (1)(a) shall not apply to any law so far as that law makes provision -
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(b) with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
… (Art. 149)
Customary Law
- EnglishNothing in this Constitution takes away a role or function of a traditional leader as recognized by custom and tradition, or prevents a traditional leader from being recognized, honored, and given formal or functional roles at any level of government as may be prescribed by this Constitution or by statute. (Art. V, Sec. 1)
Customary Law
- English(1) ...
(f) No persons shall be compelled to give testimony against themselves or their spouses, who shall include partners in a marriage by customary law, and no Court shall admit in evidence against such persons testimony which has been obtained from such persons in violation of Article 8(2)(b) hereof.
... (Art. 12)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
- English
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WHEREAS the Leaders of Samoa have declared that Samoa should be an Independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and tradition;
… (Preamble) - Samoan
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ONA ua faaalia e Taitai o Samoa le tatau ona avea Samoa ma Malo Tutoatasi e faavaeina i luga o talitonuga faa-Kerisiano ma tu ma aganuu a Samoa;
… (Uputomua)
Customary Law
- English(1) The laws of Sierra Leone shall comprise—
a. this Constitution;
b. laws made by or under the authority of Parliament as established by this Constitution;
c. any orders, rules, regulations and other statutory instruments made by any person or authority pursuant to a power conferred in that behalf by this Constitution or any other law;
d. the existing law; and
e. the common law.
(2) The common law of Sierra Leone shall comprise the rules of law generally known as the common law, the rules of law generally known as the doctrines of equity, and the rules of customary law including those determined by the Superior Court of Judicature.
(3) For the purposes of this section the expression “customary law” means the rules of law which by custom are applicable to particular communities in Sierra Leone.
… (Sec. 170)
Customary Law
- English… 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
- English1. The institution, status and role of Traditional Authority, according to customary law, are recognised under this Constitution.
2. Traditional Authority shall function in accordance with this Constitution, the state constitutions and the law.
3. The courts shall apply customary law subject to this Constitution and the law. (Art. 167)
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)