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Customary Law
- English
(1) The Preamble acknowledges that Tuvalu is an Independent State based on Christian principles, the Rule of Law, Tuvaluan values, culture and tradition, and respect for human dignity.
(2) This includes recognition of-
(a) the right to worship, or not to worship, in whatever way the conscience of the individual tells him; and
(b) the right to hold, to receive and to communicate opinions, ideas and information.
(3) Within Tuvalu, the freedoms of the individual can only be exercised having regard to the rights or feelings of other people, the Charter of Duties and Responsibilities in section 43 and to the effect on society.
(4) It may therefore be necessary in certain circumstances to regulate or place some restrictions on the exercise of those rights, if their exercise—
(a) may be divisive, unsettling or offensive to the people; or
(b) may directly threaten Tuvaluan values or culture.
(5) Subject to section 15 (definition of “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society”) nothing contained in a law or done under a law shall be considered to be inconsistent with section 23 (freedom of belief); or section 24 (freedom of expression); or section 25 (freedom of assembly and association); or section 26 (freedom of movement); or section 27 (freedom from discrimination) to the extent the law makes provision regulating or placing restrictions on any exercise of the right-
(a) to spread beliefs; or
(b) to communicate opinions, ideas and information;
(c) to assemble and associate with others;
(d) to move freely or reside within Tuvalu or to enter and to leave Tuvalu; or
(e) to not be discriminated against;
if the exercise of that right may otherwise conflict with subsection (4). (Sec. 29)
Customary Law
- 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
- 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
- EnglishParliament shall by law provide for the organisation of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs and in particular for the role of chiefs at the village, island and district level. (Art. 31)
- FrenchLe Parlement légifère sur l'organisation du Conseil des Chefs Malvatumauri, et en particulier sur le rôle des chefs dans les villages, dans les îles et dans les provinces. (Art. 31)
Customary Law
- English1. Parliament may provide for the manner of the ascertainment of relevant rules of custom except for the rules of custom relating to ownership of custom land, and may in particular provide for persons knowledgeable in such custom to sit with the judges of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal and take part in its proceedings.
... (Art. 51) - French1) Le Parlement peut prévoir la façon de vérifier des règles coutumières pertinentes sauf pour les règles coutumières relatives à la propriété des terres coutumières et peut en particulier permettre à des personnes connaissant bien une coutume donnée de siéger avec les juges de la Cour suprême ou de la Cour d’appel et participer à ses procédures.
... (Art. 51)
Customary Law
- EnglishParliament shall provide for the establishment of village or island courts with jurisdiction over customary and other matters and shall provide for the role of chiefs in such courts. (Art. 52)
- FrenchLe Parlement crée des tribunaux de village ou d'île compétents en matière coutumière ou autre, et définit le rôle des chefs auprès de ces tribunaux. (Art. 52)
Customary Law
- EnglishAll land in the Republic of Vanuatu belongs to the indigenous custom owners and their descendants. (Art. 73)
- FrenchToutes les terres situées dans le territoire de la République appartiennent aux propriétaires coutumiers indigènes et à leur descendance. (Art. 73)
Customary Law
- EnglishThe rules of custom shall form the basis of ownership and use of land in the Republic of Vanuatu. (Art. 74)
- FrenchDans la République, les règles coutumières constituent le fondement des droits de propriété et d'usage des terres. (Art. 74)
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
- 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).
...
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).
...
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)