COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ADOPTS CONCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON REPORTS OF QATAR

CERD
60th session
20 March 2002
Morning






The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on the ninth to twelfth periodic reports of Qatar by welcoming the political reform process which the State party had embarked on.

The Committee also noted in particular the review of legislation on public freedoms, the lifting of censorship on the printed press, the first elections to the Central Municipal Council conducted under universal and equal suffrage in 1999, and the announcement of the forthcoming establishment of an elected parliament.

The Committee expressed its concern over the repeated affirmation by the State party that it had no need to take action in implementation of articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention since there was no racial discrimination in Qatar; and it pointed out that States parties were required under the Convention to take legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures to give effect to its provisions, even in the apparent absence of racism.

Qatar is among the 161 States parties to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and as such it should submit periodic reports to the Committee for its consideration on the activities undertaken by the State party to implement the provisions of the treaty. The Committee issues its concluding observations and recommendations after considering each country report.

Also this morning, the Committee briefly discussed organizational matters and methods of work.

The Committee is scheduled to adopt its concluding observations and recommendations on the eleventh to thirteenth periodic reports of Belgium when it reconvenes at 3 p.m.


Concluding Observations and Recommendations on Reports of Qatar

The Committee welcomed the process of political reform which Qatar had embarked on, and noted in particular the review of legislation on public freedoms, the lifting of censorship on the printed press, the first elections to the Central Municipal Council conducted under universal and equal suffrage in 1999, and the announcement of the forthcoming establishment of an elected parliament.

The Committee also noted with satisfaction, among other things, that the State party had set up a committee to draft a permanent Constitution; welcomed the State party's declared intention of ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in the near future.

The Committee again expressed its concern over the repeated affirmation by the State party that it had no need to take action in implementation of articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention since there was no racial discrimination in Qatar; and it pointed out that States parties were required under the Convention to take legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures to give effect to its provisions, even in the apparent absence of racism.

Further, the Committee noted that the Provisional Constitution, as well as provisions of the Islamic Shari'a, the principal source of Qatar legislation, prohibit acts of racial discrimination. Even so, the Committee reiterated that the mere statement of the general principle of non-discrimination in the Constitution or in the fundamental laws was not a sufficient response to the requirements of the Convention. In that connection, the Committee drew attention to its General Recommendations I, II, VII and XV and emphasized the preventive value of legislation expressly prohibiting racial discrimination and racist propaganda.

The Committee requested the State party to consider the possibility of modifying the provision that made distinction between nationals of Arab countries and others concerning the length of time they should reside in Qatar before they could submit an application for naturalization. It noted with concern the distinction drawn between citizens by birth and naturalized citizens as regards access to public office and other kind of employment, as well as the right to vote and to stand for election. Further concern was expressed that marriage between Qataris and foreigners was subject to the prior approval of the Minister of the Interior; and the Committee requested the State party to provide it with information on the scope of that restriction on the right to marry and choose one's spouse.

The Committee recommended that the State party institute training programmes on human rights and understanding among ethnic groups for law enforcement officials, including policemen, military and prison staff, and members of the judiciary; the Committee requested the State party to include in its periodic report desegregated statistical data of migrants' national origin, which could allow a better understanding of the economic and social standing of non-Qatari nationals in relation to their national and ethnic origins; and it also requested that the State party include in its next periodic report information on how the project to set up a national human rights commission was progressing.

The Committee requested that the State party take into account the relevant parts and recommendations of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action when implementing the Convention in the domestic legal order, and to include in its next periodic report information on the action plans or other measures it had taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the national level.





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