Custom Land Management Act (No.33 of 2013). Country/Territory Vanuatu Document type Legislation Date 2013 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to provide for the determination of custom owners and the resolution of disputes over ownership of custom land by customary institutions and for related purposes. Subject Land & soil Keyword Basic legislation Traditional rights/customary rights Court/tribunal Dispute settlement Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Lease Cadastre/land registration Community management Institution Land reform Property rights Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Least Developed Countries, Melanesia, Oceania, Small Island Developing States, South Pacific Abstract This Act strengthens the legal framework concerning title to custom land and concerns management of custom land by customary institutions. It formalizes the recognition of customary institutions termed ‘nakamals’ and ‘custom area land tribunals’ to determine the rules of custom which form the basis of ownership and use of land in Vanuatu. In general the Act aims at holding of custom land by owners as a group. Custom land means land owned or occupied, or land in which an interest is held, by one or more persons in accordance with the rules of custom. For the purposes of this Act, each island is divided into custom areas. Larger islands are divided into many custom areas. Full text English Website mol.gov.vu References - Legislation Amended by Custom Land Management (Amendment) Act (No. 12 of 2014). Legislation | Vanuatu | 2014 Keyword: Court/tribunal, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Traditional rights/customary rights, Dispute settlement Source: FAO, FAOLEX