Tuvalu

Tuvalu[1] [print]

Last edited: May 2005

Summary and Analysis

Tuvalu ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) August 17, 1990.  The CRC entered into force September 16, 1990.  Tuvalu has not filed any reservations, declarations, objections, or country reports.

It appears from our research that Tuvalu does not have procedures, institutions, or bureaucracies in place to provide for the representation of children in child protective proceedings. 

Related Sources of Law (In Order of Authority)

International Law

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12

1.  States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

2.  For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

Additional Resources and Links

Tuvalu Online

www.tuvaluislands.com

See contact information for the government of Tuvalu at http://www.tuvaluislands.com/gov_addresses.htm

Statement delivered by The Honorable Dr. Alesana K. Seluka, Minister of Education and Sports and Minister of Health, Tuvalu, At the United Nations General Assembly Special Sessionon Children (Friday, May 10, 2002), at

http://www.janeresture.com/tuvalu_un_speech/main.htm

Government of Tuvalu with the assistance of UNICEF, A situation analysis of children and women in Tuvalu (1996).

Philip Ells & Meleta Faaalo, Tuvalu Country Paper, presented at the Regional Seminar on Women and the Law in the Pacific (24th to 29th April 1994).

Martin Tsamenyi, Tuvalu in South Pacific Islands Legal Systems 342-64 (Michael A. Ntumy et al. eds., Honolulu:  University of Hawaii Press 1993).

Jacqueline D. Elliott, Tuvalu in Pacific Law Bibliography 601-04 (Taroona, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia:  Pacific Law Press, 2d ed. 1990) (London:  Commonwealth Secretariat 1988).

Research Path

In conducting our research, we consulted the following web-based resources:

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/tv/index.htm

United Nations Official Document System (ODS)

http://documents.un.org/

Readex AccessUN

http://brs.newsbank.com/cgi-bin/libs/opendb.pl?p_d=UNAD&f=customized&p_lang=English&p_nb_id=I77

G5EIYMTExNzQ3MDYyOC4zMjM4NTk6MToxNDoxMzAuMTMyLjEyMC41Ng

United Nations Human Rights Documents (UNHCHR), Treaty Body Database http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf

World Legal Information Institute (WorldLII)

http://www.worldlii.org/catalog/2137.html

This database provides online access to the Constitution of Tuvalu, information about the Tuvalu courts system and case law (Privy Council decisions, Tuvalu cases from the High Court of Tuvalu), information about the Tuvalu system of government, inter-government organizations, Tuvalu legislation (Tuvalu Consolidated Legislation – 1990 Revised Edition, Tuvalu Sessional Legislation 1990 – , United Kingdom Legislation in Tuvalu), and Pacific law links.

Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLii)

http://www.paclii.org/databases.html#TV

United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2004

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41663.htm

There were no reports of child abuse.

2003 Report:  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27792.htm

2002 Report:  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18268.htm

2001 Report:  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/eap/8381.htm

2000 Report:  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/eap/811.htm

1999 Report:  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/309.htm

UNICEF

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/Tuvalu.html

[accessed on May 30, 2005]

See Tuvalu at a glance (“The big picture” and “Statistics”).  Statistics regarding child protection are not available.

Foreign Law Guide (FLG)

http://www.foreignlawguide.com/ip/flg/Tuvalu.htm

Lists current sources of codes and basic legislation in Tuvalu.

CIA - The World Factbook

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tv.html

Provides information about Tuvalu geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.

Law Library Resource Xchange

http://www.llrx.com/features/pacific2.htm

A guide to web-based resources for the Pacific Islands.  This site refers the user to The World Factbook and PacLii for legal information specific to Tuvalu.  In addition, it provides information about journals, academic sites and research centres, and related sites which are not law-specific.

Harvard Law School Library, Foreign & International Law Resources http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/services/research/guides/international/web_resources/

No information for Tuvalu.

Lexis

http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/

No information for Tuvalu.

Westlaw

http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/

No information for Tuvalu.

 

Endnotes

[1] This page is also available as a .pdf Document, and Word Document.

Oceania
Tuvalu