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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.
Affirmative Action (Broadly)
- English(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law.
(2) Except as expressly authorised under the provisions of this Constitution, no law and no executive or administrative action of the State shall, either expressly or in its practical application, subject any person or persons to any disability or restriction or confer on any person or persons any privilege or advantage on grounds only of descent, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, place of birth, family status, or any of them.
(3) Nothing in this Article shall –
…
(b) Prevent the making of any provision for the protection or advancement of women or children or of any socially or educationally retarded class of persons.
… (Art. 15) - Samoan(1) E tutusa tagata uma i luma o le tulafono ma e tofu tatau ona maua le puipuiga tutusa i lalo o le tulafono.
(2) Vagana ai e pei ona faatagaina manino e lenei Faavae, e leai se tulafono ma e leai se gaoioiga a le Malo tau le pulega faatonu po o le tausiga o le a, po o lona faamatalaina manino ai pe faatino mai ai se mafatiaga o so o se tagata po o ni tagata i so o se itu e le mafai ai po o le faasaina po o le tuuina atu i so o se tagata po o ni tagata so o se tulaga aloaia po o le tulaga taugamalie ona o le avea ma mafuaaga lona tupuaga, tane pe se fafine, gagana, lotu, taofi tau upu fai o malo po o se isi lava taofi, mafuaaga faale-vafealoai, nuu na fanau ai, tulaga faale-aiga, po o nisi lava o ia mea.
(3) E leai se mea i lenei Mataupu o le a:
…
(e) taofia ai o le faia o so o se aiaiga mo le puipuiga po o le faagasologa i luma o fafine po o tamaiti po o le vasega o tagata ua telegese le gasologa i luma o lo latou tulaga tau le vafealoai po o le aoaoina.
… (Mataupu 15)
Equality and Non-Discrimination
- English(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law.
(2) Except as expressly authorised under the provisions of this Constitution, no law and no executive or administrative action of the State shall, either expressly or in its practical application, subject any person or persons to any disability or restriction or confer on any person or persons any privilege or advantage on grounds only of descent, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, place of birth, family status, or any of them.
(3) Nothing in this Article shall
(a) Prevent the prescription of qualifications for the service of Samoa or the service of a body corporate directly established under the law; or
(b) Prevent the making of any provision for the protection or advancement of women or children or of any socially or educationally retarded class of persons.
(4) Nothing in this Article shall affect the operation of any existing law or the maintenance by the State of any executive or administrative practice being observed on Independence Day:
Provided that the State shall direct its policy towards the progressive removal of any disability or restriction which has been imposed on any of the grounds referred to in clause (2) and of any privilege or advantage which has been conferred on any of those grounds. (Art. 15) - Samoan(1) E tutusa tagata uma i luma o le tulafono ma e tofu tatau ona maua le puipuiga tutusa i lalo o le tulafono.
(2) Vagana ai e pei ona faatagaina manino e lenei Faavae, e leai se tulafono ma e leai se gaoioiga a le Malo tau le pulega faatonu po o le tausiga o le a, po o lona faamatalaina manino ai pe faatino mai ai se mafatiaga o so o se tagata po o ni tagata i so o se itu e le mafai ai po o le faasaina po o le tuuina atu i so o se tagata po o ni tagata so o se tulaga aloaia po o le tulaga taugamalie ona o le avea ma mafuaaga lona tupuaga, tane pe se fafine, gagana, lotu, taofi tau upu fai o malo po o se isi lava taofi, mafuaaga faale-vafealoai, nuu na fanau ai, tulaga faale-aiga, po o nisi lava o ia mea.
(3) E leai se mea i lenei Mataupu o le a:
(a) taofia ai le tusia o tulaga agavaa mo le aufaigaluega a le malo o Samoa po o galuega a se kamupani ua faatuina tonu e tusa ma le tulafono; po o le
(e) taofia ai o le faia o so o se aiaiga mo le puipuiga po o le faagasologa i luma o fafine po o tamaiti po o le vasega o tagata ua telegese le gasologa i luma o lo latou tulaga tau le vafealoai po o le aoaoina.
(4) E leai se mea i lenei Mataupu o le a aafia ai le faatinoina o se tulafono o i ai nei po o le tausiga e le Malo o so o se faiga tau le pulega faatonu po o le tausiga e faamamaluina i le Aso o le Tutoatasi:
SEIA VAGANA UA FAAPEA o le a faatonuina e le Malo lana faiga agai i le toe aveesea o so o se itu e le mafai ai po o se taofiofiga na faaoo atu ona o so o se mafuaaga ua taua i le fuaiupu (2) ma so o se tulaga aloaia po o le taugamalie na faaoo atu ona o so o se tasi o na mafuaaga. (Mataupu 15)
Limitations and/or Derogations
- English(1) When a Proclamation of Emergency has been made and so long as it remains in force, the Head of State may from time to time make such Orders (hereinafter referred to as Emergency Orders) as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for securing the public safety, the defence of Samoa and the efficient prosecution of any war in which Samoa may be engaged, for maintaining public order and the supplies and services essential to the life of the community, and generally for safeguarding the interests and maintaining the welfare of the community.
(2) Emergency Orders may empower or provide for empowering such authorities, persons or classes of persons as may be specified in the Orders to make regulations, rules or bylaws for any of the purposes for which Emergency Orders are authorised under the provisions of this Article to be made, and may contain such incidental and supplementary provisions as appear to the Head of State to be necessary or expedient for making effective the powers conferred under the provisions of clause (1).
(3) Every Emergency Order, if otherwise valid, shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in Part II.
(4) No provision of any Emergency Order, and no regulation, rule or by-law duly made under the provisions of any such Order, shall be invalid because it deals with any matter already provided for under any law or because of any inconsistency with any such law. (Art. 106) - Samoan(1) I se tulaga ua uma ai ona faia se Poloaiga o se Faalavelave Tupu Faafuasei ma i le vaitaimi uma e faamamaluina ai, e mafai e le Ao o le Malo mai i lea taimi i lea taimi ona faia ni poloaiga (e amata atu nei ona taua o Poloaiga o Faalavelave Tutupu Faafuasei) e pei ona o le a ia silafia ua tatau po o le faafaigofieina ai mo le taofimauina o le saogalemu o le atunuu, le puipuiga o Samoa mai taua faapea le faataunuuina i se tulaga manaomia o so o se taua e ono auai Samoa, mo le tausiga o le nofo filemu o tagata atoa ma mea e fia maua mai ma galuega e tatau mo le soifuaga o tagata uma, ma i le itu aoao mo le puipuiga malu o aia ma le tausiga o le sologa manuia o le atunuu.
(2) E mafai e Poloaiga o Faalavelave Tutupu Faafuasei ona tuuina atu le pule po o le aiaia mo le tuuina atu o le pule i ni pulega, tagata po o vasega o tagata e pei ona o le a faasinoina mai i Poloaiga ia fai ai tulafono faatonutonu, tulafono e puipui ai po o tulafono iti mo so o se faatatauga ua faatagaina ai Poloaiga o Faalavelave Tutupu Faafuasei e tusa ma aiaiga o lenei Mataupu ina ia faia, ma e mafai ona aofia ai ni aiaiga faaopoopo ma itu e aafia e pei ona silafia e le Ao o le Malo ua tatau ai po o le talafeagai ma le tulaga ua i ai mo le faatinoina o pulega na tuuina atu e tusa ma aiaiga o le fuaiupu (1).
(3) O poloaiga o faalavelave tutupu faafuasei uma, ae ese ai pe a o tumau pea le faaaogaina, o le a faatinoina e ui lava i so o se mea o lo o aofia i le Vaega II.
(4) E leai se aiaiga o so o se Poloaiga o Faalavelave Tutupu Faafuasei, ma e leai se tulafono faatonutonu po o se tulafono e puipui ai po o se tulafono laitiiti na faia ma le tatau ai e tusa ma aiaiga o so o sea Poloaiga, o le a faaleaogaina ona ua faapea e faasino i so o se mataupu ua uma ona aiaia e so o se tulafono po ona o le le talafeagai ai ma sea tulafono. (Mataupu 106)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
- English(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law.
(2) Except as expressly authorised under the provisions of this Constitution, no law and no executive or administrative action of the State shall, either expressly or in its practical application, subject any person or persons to any disability or restriction or confer on any person or persons any privilege or advantage on grounds only of descent, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, social origin, place of birth, family status, or any of them.
(3) Nothing in this Article shall
(a) Prevent the prescription of qualifications for the service of Samoa or the service of a body corporate directly established under the law;
… (Art. 15) - Samoan(1) E tutusa tagata uma i luma o le tulafono ma e tofu tatau ona maua le puipuiga tutusa i lalo o le tulafono.
(2) Vagana ai e pei ona faatagaina manino e lenei Faavae, e leai se tulafono ma e leai se gaoioiga a le Malo tau le pulega faatonu po o le tausiga o le a, po o lona faamatalaina manino ai pe faatino mai ai se mafatiaga o so o se tagata po o ni tagata i so o se itu e le mafai ai po o le faasaina po o le tuuina atu i so o se tagata po o ni tagata so o se tulaga aloaia po o le tulaga taugamalie ona o le avea ma mafuaaga lona tupuaga, tane pe se fafine, gagana, lotu, taofi tau upu fai o malo po o se isi lava taofi, mafuaaga faale-vafealoai, nuu na fanau ai, tulaga faale-aiga, po o nisi lava o ia mea.
(3) E leai se mea i lenei Mataupu o le a:
(a) taofia ai le tusia o tulaga agavaa mo le aufaigaluega a le malo o Samoa po o galuega a se kamupani ua faatuina tonu e tusa ma le tulafono; po o le
… (Mataupu 15)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
- English…
(2) Subject to the provisions of clause (3), land which immediately before Independence Day is, under the provisions of the Samoa Act 1921, Samoan land, European land or Crown land shall, on and after Independence Day, be held, under the provisions of this Constitution, as customary land, freehold land or public land, respectively.
(3) All land in Samoa which immediately before Independence Day is vested in the Crown in right of the Government of New Zealand shall, on Independence Day, become freehold land held by Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Government of New Zealand for an estate in fee simple. (Art. 123) - Samoan…
(2) Vagana ua tusa ai ma aiaiga o le fuaiupu (3), o eleele ia, e tusa ai ma aiaiga o le Tulafono Faavae o Samoa 1921, o eleele tau Samoa, eleele tau papalagi po o eleele tau le Malo o le a taofia e tusa ai ma aiaiga o lenei Faavae, i le Aso o le Tutoatasi ma ona tua atu, e avea o eleele tau le aganuu, eleele taofia saoloto po o eleele tau le malo e pei ona faasolo ai.
(3) O eleele uma i Samoa la ia na tuuina atu i le Tupu i le aia tatau a le Malo o Niu Sila i luma tonu mai o le Aso o le Tutoatasi o le a avea ma eleele e taofia saoloto i le Aso o le Tutoatasi e Lana Maiesetete le Tupu Tamaitai i le aia tatau a le Malo o Niu Sila mo se eleele e taofia saoloto. (Mataupu 123)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
- English
(1) There shall be a Land and Titles Court comprising of:
(a) Land and Titles First Court;
(b) Land and Titles High Court; and
(c) Land and Titles Court of Appeal and Review,
and all appointments and with such jurisdiction in relation to matai title and customary lands provided in this 'Part IX Land and Titles Court' of the Constitution, or an Act of Parliament.
(2) The Courts in this Part IX Land and Titles Court has special jurisdiction, it governs a legal system different and separate from that of the Civil and Criminal Courts in Part VI; and has special individual jurisdiction over the subject of Samoan customs and usages in relation to matai titles and customary lands.
(3) All persons are entitled to the protection of their custom rights the subject of the jurisdiction of the courts in this Part. (Art. 104) - Samoan
(1) O le a i ai se Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa e aofia ai:
(a) Faamasinoga Muamua o Fanua ma Suafa;
(b) Faamasinoga Maualuga o Fanua ma Suafa; ma le
(c) Faamasinoga o Talosaga ma Iloiloga o Fanua ma Suafa,
ma tofiga ma lana puleaga faatatau i mataupu e faasino i suafa matai ma eleele faa-le-aganuu ua aiaia i lenei 'Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa' o le Faavae, po o se Tulafono a le Palemene.
(2) O Faamasinoga i lenei Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, e i ai puleaga faapitoa, na te puleaina se faiga faaletulafono ese ma e tu ese mai i Faamasinoga o Mataupu Tau le Va o Tagata ma Solitulafono o i ai i le Vaega VI; ma e i ai le puleaga toatasi faapitoa i mataupu tau i tu ma aganuu faa-Samoa ma Jo latou faaaogaina e faatatau i suafa matai ma eleele faa-le-aganuu.
(3) E agavaa tagata uma i le puipuiga o a latou aia tatau i aganuu faa-Samoa, o le mataupu autu o le puleaga a Faamasinoga i lenei Vaega. (Mataupu 104)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
- EnglishIt shall not be lawful or competent for any person to make any alienation or disposition of customary land or of any interest in customary land, whether by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise howsoever, nor shall customary land or any interest therein be capable of being taken in execution or be assets for the payment of the debts of any person on his decease or insolvency:
PROVIDED THAT an Act of Parliament may authorise:
(a) the granting of a lease or licence of any customary land or of any interest therein;
(b) the taking of any customary land or any interest therein for public purposes. (Art. 102) - SamoanO le a le tusa ai ma le tulafono po o le le mafai e so o se tagata ona faaliliueseina atu po o le aveesea mai ia te ia o eleele tau le aganuu po o se itu e tau atu ai i eleele tau le aganuu, i se auala o le faatau atu, lisi, laisene, mokesi, po o se tasi lava faiga, o le a le mafaia lava se eleele tau le aganuu po o se itu e tau i ai ona avea i le faamaapeina po o le fai ma mea e totogiina ai ni aitalafu a so o se tagata ina ua maliu po o le le mafai ona togia o aitalafu:
VAGANA AI ONA UA FAAPEA, o se Tulafono a le Palemene e mafai ona faatagaina:
(a) le tuuina atu o se lisi po o se laisene o so o se eleele faale-aganuu po o so o se itu e tau atu i ai i lea eleele;
(e) le aveina o so o se eleele faale-aganuu po o le tau i ai i lea eleele mo galuega tau le Malo. (Mataupu 102)
Property, Inheritance and Land Tenure
- English(1) All land in Samoa is customary land, freehold land or public land.
(2) Customary land means land held from Samoa in accordance with Samoan custom and usage and with the law relating to Samoan custom and usage.
(3) Freehold land means land held from Samoa for an estate in fee simple.
… (Art. 101) - Samoan(1) O eleele uma i Samoa o eleele tau le aganuu, eleele umia saoloto (fanua na faatauina mai), po o eleele tau le Malo.
(2) O eleele tau le aganuu o lona uiga o eleele e umia mai ia Samoa e talafeagai ai ma aganuu faa-Samoa ma lo latou faaaogaina ma e tusa ai ma le tulafono e uiga i aganuu faa-Samoa ma lo latou faaaogaina.
(3) O eleele e umia saoloto o lona uiga o eleele e umia mai ia Samoa mo se fanua na faatauina mai.
… (Mataupu 101)
Protection from Violence
- English(1) No person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
… (Art. 8) - Samoan(1) E leai se tagata o le a manaomia ina ia faamalosia po o le uunaiina ia faigaluega.
… (Mataupu 8)
Protection from Violence
- EnglishNo person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. (Art. 7)
- SamoanE leai se tagata o le a tatau ona faataugaina po o le faia i ai faiga e le tusa ai ma faiga faa-tagata soifua po o le faiga e faalumaina ai po o le faasalaina. (Mataupu 7)