The Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) decided to hold a special session on Friday 3 May 2019 to hear Qatar' appeal concerning the inter-state complaints against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which imposed discriminatory measures in June 2017 that harmed its citizens.

The relevant Committee, composed of 18 international experts from around the world, will determine the competence of the Committee to receive and consider whether or not a national complaint is to be considered, and also to consider all the conditions set forth in the Convention in order to refer the complaint to the Conciliation Commission. The Agent of Qatar to the International Court of Justice and Dean of the Law College at Qatar University Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi will submit the legal pleading in Geneva as a representative of the State of Qatar.

The country's complaint is the first complaint against another state to be considered by the Committee since the adoption of the Convention in 1962. Palestine is the second country to file a similar complaint against Israel under the UN anti-racism treaty before the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

On March 8, 2018, the State of Qatar submitted an inter-State complaint against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as another inter-State complaint against the United Arab Emirates before the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva in accordance with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. On 22 July 1976, Qatar acceded to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention intends to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, religion or national origin.

Qatar initiated this action as a result of the discriminatory measures imposed on it in June 2017 by the blockading countries, which harmed and affected Qataris.

Qatar has decided to start the aforementioned measures to protect the rights of its citizens since Saudi Arabia and the UAE have enacted and implemented, on 5 June 2017, a series of discriminatory measures which contravene with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination based on national origin mentioned in article 1 thereof.

In compliance with articles 11 through 13 of the Convention, the Committee is entrusted with the task of referring complaints for formal conciliation in order to reach an amicable settlement, after ascertaining its competence and the applicability of the provisions of the Convention.

It is noteworthy that the International Court of Justice issued on 23 July 2018 a provisional verdict granting Qatar's request for provisional measures against the United Arab Emirates. The Courts order requires the UAE to allow Qatar-UAE mixed families, who were separated due to UAE procedures taken on 5 June 2017, to reunite and Qatari students should be given the opportunity to complete their studies in the UAE or to retain records of their studies to be able to continue their education elsewhere

The Court's order stated that Qataris, affected by the measures taken by the UAE on 5 June 2017, are allowed to access judicial services in the UAE. (QNA)

Cover image credit: Civil Rights Defenders

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Nabeela

Content Writer

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