About Intellectual Property IP Training Respect for IP IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships AI Tools & Services The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars IP Enforcement WIPO ALERT Raising Awareness World IP Day WIPO Magazine Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA UPOV e-PVP Administration UPOV e-PVP DUS Exchange Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Webcast WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO Translate Speech-to-Text Classification Assistant Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight
Arabic English Spanish French Russian Chinese
Laws Treaties Judgments Browse By Jurisdiction

Constitution of Kiribati, Kiribati

Back

Latest Version in WIPO Lex This text has been amended and a consolidated version is not yet available in WIPO Lex.  See Related Legislation / Is amended by below
Year of Version 1995 Dates Amended: February 13, 1995 Adopted: July 12, 1979 Commenced: July 12, 1979 Type of Text Constitution/Basic Law Subject Matter Other Notes Kiribati (an island nation in the western part of the Pacific Ocean) became independent from United Kingdom in 1979. The Constitution of 1979, the supreme law of the Republic of Kiribati was promulgated on July 12, 1979 and establishes Kiribati as a sovereign democratic republic.

The Constitution was amended in 1995 by Constitution (Amendment) Act 1995. It establishes the law under which the government of Kiribati operates, provides for the establishment of the three powers of government (Legislative, Judiciary and Executive) and guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens.

Kiribati has a unicameral House of Parliament (Maneaba) of 45 members who serve 4-year terms. The Speaker for the legislature is elected by the Maneaba and is not a member of the Parliament. The executive branch consists of a president (te Beretitenti), a vice president and a cabinet. The President is both the Chief of State and Head of Government. The judicial system consists of the Court of Appeal, the High Court and Magistrates' Courts. The president makes all judicial appointments.

As Kiribati was a British colony until 1979, the British introduced the legal system of common law in the country, increasingly supplemented by local and customary law. Some legislation of England still has application in Kiribati. For example, the only patent legislation that exists in Kiribati is the law on 'Registration of UK Patent' and similarly the only trademark legislation is the law on 'Registration of United Kingdoms Trademarks'.

The Constitution does not contain any provision that specially recognizes and guarantees protection to intellectual property rights. However, Article 8, Chapter II of the Constitution prohibits the deprivation of property, which provides in part: “No property of any description shall be compulsorily taken possession of, and no interest in or right over property of any description shall be compulsorily acquired...'

Available Texts Main text(s) Main text(s) English Constitution of Kiribati PDF HTML
Legislation Is amended by (4 text(s)) Is amended by (4 text(s))
Constitution (Amendment) Act 2018 (Act No.10 of 2018) [ Amending law not consolidated in text ] (KI042)
Constitution (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act No. 4 of 2016) [ Amending law not consolidated in text ] (KI041)
Constitution (Amendment) Act 2013 (Act No. 8 of 2013) [ Amending law not consolidated in text ] (KI040)
Constitution (Amendment) Act 1995 (Act No.1 of 1995) (KI002)


WIPO Lex No. KI001