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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 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
- EnglishParliament, after consultation with the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, shall provide for the implementation of Articles 73, 74 and 75 in a national land law and may make different provision for different categories of land, one of which shall be urban land. (Art. 76)
- FrenchUne loi foncière nationale, votée par le Parlement après consultation du Conseil des Chefs Malvatumauri, met en œuvre les prescriptions des articles 73, 74 et 75. Cette loi peut prévoir des dispositions différentes selon les catégories de terres, l'une d'entre elles étant constituée par la propriété urbaine. (Art. 76)
Customary Law
- EnglishA state may provide that one of its seats is set aside for a traditional leader who shall be chosen as provided by statute for a 2-year term, in lieu of one representative elected on the basis of population. The number of congressional districts shall be reduced and reapportioned accordingly. (Art. IX, Sec. 11)
Customary Law
- English
The role of the 'Falekaupule', as the island traditional governing authority on each of the islands of Tuvalu, is hereby recognized. The 'Falekaupule' derives its authority from the island's culture, traditions and values and an Act of Parliament. (Sec. 140)
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
- EnglishNo person may succeed to any tofi'a or any title until he has attained the age of twenty one years, save for members of the Royal Family who shall be deemed to have attained maturity at eighteen years of age. (Clause 27)
- Tongan‘E ‘ikai ha taha ‘e ngofua ke hoko ko e ‘ea ki ha tofi‘a pe ha hingoa kae ‘oua kuo kakato hono uofulu mā taha ta‘u, tuku kehe ‘a kinautolu ‘i he fāmili ‘o e Tu‘i ‘a ia kuo pau ke lau kuo nau a‘u ki he ta‘u fakalao ‘i he ta‘u ‘e hongofulu-mā-valu. (Kupu 27)
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
- 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...
(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
- 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