Personal statuses in New Caledonia Towards egalitarian pluralism?
Les statuts personnels en Nouvelle-Calédonie Vers un pluralisme égalitaire ?
Résumé
At a time when the question of New Caledonia's institutional future is once again being raised, it seems necessary to look at one of the country's specific features: the coexistence of several personal statuses. Ethnic groups with a variety of personal statuses live side by side, with these statuses triggering the application of rules of law from different legal systems. Two statuses are recognised by the fundamental legal texts: the civil status known as "common law" and the Kanak customary civil status. Alongside these, others exist without their legal value being clearly identified. On the one hand, many New Caledonian residents have the special civil status of Wallis and Futuna, which is recognised in this overseas territory but not in New Caledonia. On the other hand, a civil status that does not say its name is under construction. This is the "Caledonian civil status" resulting from a Caledonian law that has been autonomous from that of mainland France since the transfer of "civil law" jurisdiction to New Caledonia on 1 July 2013. Observation of the rules governing these statutes is instructive in terms of the place accorded to the different legal orders. The system is currently characterised by the primacy of common law status. However, if we adopt a methodological approach based on legal pluralism, this mode of articulation seems outdated.Rethinking the relationship between personal statuses could make it possible to achieve greater equality and deepen the "common destiny" that the Nouméa Accord has not fully achieved.
Domaines
DroitOrigine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
---|