Law and Policy Database

The Act governs the regulation and licensing of the business of banking. It contains provisions on the entities authorized to engage in the business of banking, as well as minimum amounts for authorized, subscribed and paid up capital, among others. It provides certain punishable offenses and grants powers of investigation, search and seizure in relation to these offenses.

The Act penalizes unlawful possession of corrosive and explosive substances and the carrying of offensive and scheduled weapons.

The General Assembly Resolution on the Status of Women in Private Law: Customs, Ancient Law and Practices Affecting the Human Dignity of Women urges all States to take all measures to abolish customs, ancient laws and practices on marriage and family inconsistent with the United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also recommended that public opinion be informed accordingly.

The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention) establishes the legal framework to govern treatment of refugees. The Refugee Convention sets out the rights to which refugees are entitled, as well as adopts the principle of non-refoulement, whereby states parties are prohibited from expelling or returning (“refouler”) refugees in any manner whatsoever to territories where their lives or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

The Act institutionalized the measures to provide medical treatment, protection and aid to protect the mentally disabled, and promote their social rehabilitation.

The Supreme Court issued special rules to be observed and applied for hearings concerning juveniles.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) declared that the recognition of the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Pursuant to this, UDHR sets forth the fundamental human rights rooted in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women.

The Act implemented procedural rules peculiar to juvenile criminal cases to promote the healthy upbringing of juveniles.

The Act prohibited private monopolization, unreasonable restraint of trade and unfair trade practices for the purpose of promoting fair and free competition in the national economy.

The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act consolidates and clarifies the provisions of Muslim law relating to suits for dissolution of marriage by women married under Muslim law. It enumerates the grounds which entitle a woman married under Muslim law to a decree of divorce. It also specifically provides, that the renunciation of Islam by a married Muslim woman or her conversion to a faith other than Islam shall not by itself operate to dissolve her marriage.