Foreign Legal Research: Region and Topic
There are many sites where the laws on various topics or from various regions have been gathtered. For access by region try:
For accss by topic try:
- Anti-Trust
- Banking
- Business
- Constitutional
- Criminal
- Election
- Employment
- Environmental
- Health
- Human Rights
- Intellectual Property
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Other
- Tax
- Trade
There are also some databases which try to be global in their coverage. Those are listed immediately below.
General
- Global Legal Information Network (Library of Congress) - this project has full-text access to the laws of many Latin American countries as well as a few others and citation access to laws for many other countries.
- WorldLII (World Legal Information Institute) provides access to numerous full-text databases of legal primary sources, however, probably it is easier to look at the entry for individual countries through the Foreign Law Portal.
- World Law Guide: Legislation (Lexadin) - has links to full-text laws for various countries.
By Region
Latin America
- Inter-American Treaties within the Framework of the OAS (Organization of American States
- Inter-american system: Agreements, Conventions and other Documents (Yale University)
- Internet Resources for Latin America from the New Mexico State University Library
- Foreign Trade Information System (OAS)
- Revised Guide to International Trade Law Sources on the Internet by Marci Hoffman (LLRX)
- Guide to Foreign and International Legal Databases from NYU Law School
- Indigenous Legislation Index (InterAmerican Development Bank)
- Latin American Network Information Center (UTexas)
Africa
- Collections Documentaires (Droit Francophone) full-text laws and cases of many french speaking African countries.
- SAFLII (Southern African Legal Information Institute) includes full-text laws and cases of many Southern African countries.
- CommonLII (Commonwealth Legal Information Institute) includes full-text laws and cases of those African countries who are in the Commonwealth
- African Law Reporter (JurisAfrica) currently includes very select statutes and cases.
- Juricaf (AHJUCFA) database of Supreme Court decisions for Francophone countries. Only available to legal professionals - appears that you can register.
- Sources of Online Legal Information for African Countries (GlobaLex)
- Media Legislation in Africa (UNESCO) - summaries
- Sub-saharan Africa Government Information (UC Berkeley) has a customized search engine and links to government databases.
Europe
- N-Lex (EurLex) gateway to national law in the EU.
- LegislatiOnline (OSCE) selected laws of OSCE member countries.
- Forest Legislation in Europe (FAO)
- Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe: Legislation (Council of Europe)
- Eurydice Information network on Education lists of legislation for each country if browse by country
Eastern Europe and New Independent States
- LegislatiOnline (OSCE) selected laws of OSCE member countries.
- Law Reform In Transition States (University of Bremen)
- Nation Building in the Balkans (Chicago-Kent Law School)
- Country by Country Resources (Eastern European Constitutional Review)
- Electoral Legislation (Political Transformation and the Electroral Process in Post-Communist Europe)
- Country Research and Legislation (European Corporate Goverance Institute)
Asia
- PacLII (Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute)
- AsianLII (Asian Legal Information Institute)
- Compendium of Energy Conservation Legislation in Countries of the Asia Pacific Region (UNESCAP)
Middle East
- Arab Legal Portal (Programme on Governance in the Arab Region - UNDP)
- Study of Comparative Constitutions for Muslim Countries (US Commission on International Religious Freedom)
- Laws Database (Arab Center for the Development of the Rule of Law and Integrity) subscription database.
By Topic
Anti-Trust
Full-Text of Laws
- Global Competition Forum (International Bar Association) select "Laws"
- National Competition Legislation (UNCTAD)
- Competition Policy and Law Database (APEC)
Guides and Reports
- Competition Law and Policy (OECD)
- Inventory of Domestic Laws and Regulations Relating to Competition Policy in the Western Hemisphere
- Report on Developments and Enforcement of Competition Policy and Laws in the Western Hemisphere (MS Word format)
Links
- EU National Competition Authorities (Europa) government websites often include text of laws.
- OECD National Competition Authorities (OECD) government websites often include text of laws.
- Competition Authorities Worldwide (Federal Trade Commission) government websites often include text of laws.
Banking Law
Full-Text of Laws
- Banking Laws (NYU Central Banks Center)
- Doing Business (World Bank) includes Banking and Credit Laws)
- Arab Banking Laws (POGAR) in Arabic
Guides and Reports
- Global Survey (Institute of International Bankers)
- Central Bank Research Hub (Bank for International Settlements)
Links
- Central Bank Websites (Bank for International Settlements) government websites often include text of laws.
Business Law
Full-Text of Laws
- Doing Business (World Bank) - Full-text business laws of many jurisdictions.
- Online Library (International Center for Not-for-Profit Law) Contains many laws relating to not-for-profit law, so often Company Laws can be found there.
- Transnational Law Database (Center for Transnational Law) like a digest of commercial law concepts with some links to national laws.
- Country Research and Legislation (European Corporate Goverance Institute)
Constitutional Law
Full-Text
- International Constitutional Law (University of Bern)
- Constitution Finder (University of Richmond)
- The Rise of Modern Constitutionalism 1776-1849 (University of Kassel)
- National Constitutions (Constitution Society)
- CODICES (Commission of Venice) database of constitutional court cases.
- PARLIT (Inter-Parliamentary Union) database of literature on parliamentary law and practice.
Projects and Guides
- Comparative Constitution Project (University of Illinois) is working on a project of which the following is the codebook The Comparative Constitutions Project: A Cross-National Historical Dataset of Written Constitutions
- Comparative Constitutional Rights Chart (Human Rights and Constitutional Rights)
Regional
- Constitutions of the Americas and the Carribean (Georgetown Political Database of the Americas)
- Study of Comparative Constitutions for Muslim Countries (US Commission on International Religious Freedom)
- Laws and Constitutions (East African Cenre for Constitutional Development)
- Arab Constitutions (Programme on Governance in the Arab Region - UNDP) also has a thematic comparison section.
- East European Constitutional Review (NYU)
Criminal Law
Full-Text of Laws
- National Criminal Law (Organization of American States)
- OECD Anti-Bribery Convention: National Implementing Legislation (OECD)
- National Legislation Implementing the ICC (University of Nottingham)
- National Legislation on Organized Crime (ODCCP)
- Links to Foreign Penal Codes (University of Buffalo)
- Refworld Legal Collection (UNHCR) has some penal and criminal procedure codes.
- International Money Laundering Information Network (UNODC)(includes legislation for some countries)
- Legal Library (UNODC) drug and crime related legislation.
Election Laws
Full-Text of Laws
- Electoral laws (Georgetown Political Database of the Americas)
- Political parties (Georgetown Political Database of the Americas)
- Electoral Knowledge Project (ACE)
Employment Laws
Full-Text Laws
- NatLex (International Labour Organization)
- National Implementing Legislation of EU Anti-Discrimination Directive (Europa)
Environmental Laws
Full-Text of Laws
- National Legislation Implementing Basel Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste (Basel Convention)
- EcoLex (United Nations Environment Programme) - has both legislation and case law from foreign jurisdictions
- FAOLex (Food and Agriculture Organization) contains environmental laws among other topics.
- FishLex (FAO) database of Coastal State Requirements for Foreign Fishing
- ASEAN Project (Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law)
- Compendium of Energy Conservation Legislation in Countries of the Asia Pacific Region (UNESCAP)
Guides and Reports
- Community Based Property Rights Database (Center for International Environmental Law) covers several African countries
- Forest Legislation in Europe (FAO)
Health
Full-Text of Laws
- International Digest of Health Legislation (WHO)
- Argentina: LegiSalud
- Belgium: Ministry of Health, Food Safety and Environment
- Under different topics hit "Legislation" button to see if there is legislation
- Canada: Legislation and Guidelines
- Croatia: Laws
- Czech Republic: Laws
- Denmark: Laws
- European Union: Health and Consumer Protection DG
- France: Documentation
- Germany: Laws and Regulations
- Ireland: Legislation
- Netherlands: Laws and Regulations
- Philippines: Health Policies and Laws
- Singapore: Legislation
- Taiwan: Laws and Regulations
- Thailand: Policy Advocacy
Guides
- Popline (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) - includes information about laws affecting population (family, children, health).
Human Rights
Full-Text of Laws
- Refworld Legal Collection (UNHCR) has national legislation and decions
- Migration Law Database (IOM)
- Indigenous Legislation Index (InterAmerican Development Bank)
- Search Instruments (Child Rights Information Network) has some national legislation.
Humanitarian Law
Full-Text of Laws
- Biological Weapons Convention Implementing Legislation (Vertic)
- Legislation implementing SC Res 1540 on Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons (UN)
- National Implementing Legislation Chemical Weapons Convention (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)
- Nuclear Legislation in OECD Countries (Nuclear Energy Agency) summaries
Guides
- International Humanitarian Law: National Implementing Legislation (ICRC) - contains exerpts of laws
- Guide to Genocide in Domestic Laws and Penal Codes (PreventGenocideInternational) - includes exerpts of laws
Intellectual Property
Full-Text of Laws
- Collection of Laws for Electronic Access CLEA (WIPO)
- Cultural Heritage Laws Database (UNESCO)
- Collection of National Copyright Laws (UNESCO)
- Links to National Laws (IP Menu)
Guides
- International Intellectual Property Law (ASIL)
- Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe: Legislation (Council of Europe)
Book and Papers
- Review of Implementing Legislation TRIPS (WTO)
Media
Books and Papers
- Legislation on Community Radio Broadcasting (UNESCO)
- Media Legislation in Africa (UNESCO) - summaries
- Telecommunications Laws and Regulations by Region (ITU)
Non-Profit Organizations
Full-Text of Laws
- Country Codes and Laws (Council on Foundations)
- Online Library (International Center for Not-for-Profit Law) Contains many laws relating to not-for-profit law, so often Company Laws can be found there.
Other
- Road-Safety Legislation Database (World Health Organization)
- Civil Codes on the Web (Louisiana State University)
- Public Administration (UNPAN)
- Disability Rights Laws (DREDF)
- Country Budget Laws (World Bank)
- Policies Relating to Web Accessibility (Web Accessibility Initiative)
- International Data Privacy Laws (Information Shield)
Tax Law
Full-Text of Laws
- United States Tax Treaties from A-Z (IRS) and Tax Treaty Documents (Dept. of Treasury)
- Canadian Tax Treaties (Department of Finance)
- Indian Tax Treaties (Income Tax Department)
- Irish Tax Treaties (Ministry of Revenue)
- Korean Tax Treaties (National Tax Service)
- New Zealand Tax Treaties (Inland Revenue)
- Russian Tax Treaties (Ministry of Taxation)
- Singaporian Tax Treaties (Inland Revenue)
- Swiss Tax Treaties (Swiss government)
- United Kingdom Tax Treaties (HM Revenue and Customs)
Guides and Reports
- East Africa Tax Reference Guide (PriceWaterhouseCoopers)
Links
- Tax and Accounting Sites Directory (AccountantsWorld) links by country often lead to full-text of laws.
Trade Law
Full-Text of Laws
- Compendium of Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Laws in the Western Hemisphere
- Notification of National Implementing Legislation (WTO)
- Foreign Trade Information System (OAS)
Page maintained by Stefanie Weigmann
Last updated: October 2007