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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.
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Customary Law
Nigeria
- EnglishThe Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall, in addition to such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon by an Act of The National Assembly Exercise such appellate and supervisory jurisdiction in civil proceedings involving questions of Customary law. (Sec. 267)
Customary Law
Solomon Islands
- EnglishUntil Parliament makes other provision under the preceding section, the provisions of Schedule 3 to this Constitution shall have effect for the purpose of determining the operation in Solomon Islands -
(a) of certain Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom mentioned therein;
(b) of the principles and rules of the common law and equity;
(c) of customary law; and
(d) of the legal doctrine of judicial precedent. (Sec. 76)
Customary Law
South Africa
- English(1) National legislation may provide for a role for traditional leadership as an institution at local level on matters affecting local communities.
(2) To deal with matters relating to traditional leadership, the role of traditional leaders, customary law and the customs of communities observing a system of customary law
(a) national or provincial legislation may provide for the establishment of houses of traditional leaders; and
(b) national legislation may establish a council of traditional leaders. (Sec. 212)
Customary Law
Vanuatu
- English1. The Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs shall be composed of custom chiefs elected by their peers sitting in District Councils of Chiefs.
… (Art. 29) - French1) Le Conseil des Chefs Malvatumauri est composé des chefs coutumiers élus par leurs pairs au sein des conseils provinciaux des chefs.
… (Art. 29)
Customary Law
Togo
- EnglishThe Togolese State recognizes the traditional chiefdom, guardian of use and customs.
The designation and the enthronement [intronisation] of the traditional chief obeys the use and customs of the locality. (Art. 143) - FrenchL’Etat togolais reconnaît la chefferie traditionnelle, gardienne des us et coutumes.
La désignation et l’intronisation du chef traditionnel obéissent aux us et coutumes de la localité. (Art. 143)
Customary Law
Guyana
- 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 -
…
(b) with respect to adoption, marriage, divorce, burial, devolution of property on death or other matters of personal law;
… (Art. 149)
Customary Law
Paraguay
- EnglishThe right of the indigenous peoples to preserve and to develop their ethnic identity in the respective habitat is recognized and guaranteed. They have the right, likewise, to freely apply their systems of political, social, economic, cultural, and religious organization, as well as the voluntarily subjection to their customary norms for the regulation of [their] internal coexistence [convivencia], as long as they do not infringe upon the fundamental rights established in this Constitution. Concerning conflicts of jurisdiction the indigenous customary right will be taken into account. (Art. 63)
- SpanishQueda reconocido y garantizado el derecho de los pueblos indígenas a preservar y a desarrollar su identidad étnica en el respectivo hábitat. Tienen derecho, asimismo, a aplicar libremente sus sistemas de organización política, social, económica, cultural y religiosa, al igual que la voluntaria sujeción a sus normas consuetudinarias para la regulación de la convivencia interior siempre que ellas no atenten contra los derechos fundamentales establecidos en esta Constitución. En los conflictos jurisdiccionales se tendrá en cuenta el derecho consuetudinario indígena. (Art. 63)
Customary Law
Botswana
- English(1) If any person is charged with a criminal offence, then, unless the charge is withdrawn, the case shall be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court established or recognized by law.
(2) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence-
…
(d) shall be permitted to defend himself or herself before the court in person or, at his or her own expense, by a legal representative of his or her own choice;
(e) shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his or her legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the court, and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his or her behalf before the court on the same conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution;
...
(8) No person shall be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty therefor is prescribed in a written law:
...
(12) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of-
(b) subsection (2)(d) or (2)(e) of this section to the extent that the law in question prohibits legal representation before a subordinate court in proceedings for an offence under customary law (being proceedings against any person who, under that law, is subject to that law);
...
(e) subsection (8) of this section to the extent that the law in question authorizes a court to convict a person of a criminal offence under any customary law to which, by virtue of that law, such person is subject.
... (Sec. 10)
Customary Law
Zambia
- EnglishIn this Constitution, unless the context otherwise requires—
…
• “chief” means a person bestowed as chief and who derives allegiance from the fact of birth or descent, in accordance with the customs, traditions, usage or consent of the people in a chiefdom;
... (Art. 266)
Customary Law
Chad
- EnglishThe customary and traditional remedies [réparations] may not be made an obstacle to public action. (Art. 163)
- Arabicلا يجوز أن تعيق التدابير التصحيحية العرفية والتقليدية العمل العام. (المادة 163)
- FrenchLes réparations coutumières et traditionnelles ne peuvent faire obstacle à l'action publique. (Art. 163)