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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.
Status of the Constitution
Samoa, English
(1) This Constitution shall be the supreme law of Samoa.
(2) Any existing law and any law passed after the date of coming into force of this Constitution which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. (Art. 2)
Samoa, Samoan
(1) O lenei Faavae o le a avea ma tulafono aupito maualuga o Samoa.
(2) So o se tulafono o lo o i ai nei ma so o se tulafono e pasia ina ua tuanai le aso o le faamamaluina o lenei Faavae, e le talafeagai ma lenei Faavae o le a, i itu uma e le talafeagai ai le aoga. (Mataupu 2)
Customary Law
Samoa, English
… WHEREAS the Leaders of Samoa have declared that Samoa should be an Independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and tradition;
… (Preamble)
Samoa, Samoan
… 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
Samoa, English
A Matai title shall be held in accordance with Samoan custom and usage and with the law relating to Samoan custom and usage. (Art. 100)
Samoa, Samoan
O le a faaaogaina se suafa Matai 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. (Mataupu 100)
Customary Law
Samoa, 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.
… (Art. 101)
Samoa, 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.
… (Mataupu 101)
Customary Law
Samoa, English
There shall be a Land and Titles Court with such composition and with such jurisdiction in relation to Matai titles and customary land as may be provided by Act. (Art. 103)
Samoa, Samoan
O le a i ai se Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa e faatasia ai i le aofaiga o e e i ai ma sea puleaga i le itu e uiga i suafa matai ma eleele tau le aganuu e pei ona o le a aiaia e le Tulafono. (Mataupu 103)
Customary Law
Samoa, English
(1) In this Constitution, unless it is otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires:
…
"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)
Samoa, Samoan
(1) I lenei Faavae, vagana ai ua ese ona aiaia po o le ese ai le aano e manaomia:
…
“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)
Religious Law
Samoa, English
WHEREAS sovereignty over the Universe belongs to the Omni-present God alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Samoa within the limits prescribed by His commandments is a sacred heritage;
WHEREAS the Leaders of Samoa have declared that Samoa should be an Independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and tradition;
… (Preamble)
Samoa, Samoan
ONA o le pule aoao i le Lalolagi e i ai lea i le Atua na o Ia, e afio i mea uma lava ma o le pulega e faaaogaina e tagata o Samoa i totonu o tuaoi na faasinoina mai i Tulafono a le Atua o se tofi paia tuufaasolo;
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)
Religious Law
Samoa, English
…
3. Samoa is a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Art. 1)5
Samoa, Samoan
…
(3) O Samoa o se atunuu Kerisiano e faavae i le Atua le Tama, le Alo ma le Agaga Paia. (Mataupu 1)
Protection from Violence
Samoa, English
No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. (Art. 7)
Samoa, Samoan
E 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)
Protection from Violence
Samoa, English
(1) No person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
… (Art. 8)
Samoa, Samoan
(1) E leai se tagata o le a manaomia ina ia faamalosia po o le uunaiina ia faigaluega.
… (Mataupu 8)