Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
OVERVIEW OF THE CASE
On 11 June 2018, Qatar instituted proceedings against the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) with regard to alleged violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 21 December 1965 (“CERD” or “Convention”).
In its Application, Qatar asserted, inter alia, that on 5 June 2017 the UAE had enacted and implemented a series of discriminatory measures directed against Qataris on the basis of their national origin. The Application was accompanied by a Request for the indication of provisional measures to protect Qatar’s rights under CERD pending a decision on the merits.
To found the jurisdiction of the Court, Qatar invoked Article 36, paragraph 1, of the Statute of the Court and Article 22 of CERD.
The Court held public hearings on Qatar’s Request for the indication of provisional measures in June 2018. In an Order of 23 July 2018, the Court concluded that, prima facie, it had jurisdiction pursuant to Article 22 of CERD to deal with the case to the extent that the dispute between the Parties related to the “interpretation or application” of that Convention, and that the conditions required by its Statute for it to indicate provisional measures were met. At the end of its Order, the Court directed the UAE to
“ensure that (i) families that include a Qatari, separated by the measures adopted by the United Arab Emirates on 5 June 2017, are reunited; (ii) Qatari students affected by the measures adopted by the United Arab Emirates on 5 June 2017 are given the opportunity to complete their education in the United Arab Emirates or to obtain their educational records if they wish to continue their studies elsewhere; and (iii) Qataris affected by the measures adopted by the United Arab Emirates on 5 June 2017 are allowed access to tribunals and other judicial organs of the United Arab Emirates”.
The Court also ordered both Parties to refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.
On 22 March 2019, the UAE filed in the Registry of the Court a Request for the indication of provisional measures in order “(i) to preserve its procedural rights in th[e] case; and (ii) prevent Qatar from further aggravating or extending the dispute between the parties pending a final decision in th[e] case”. After holding public hearings on this Request in May 2019, the Court delivered an Order on 14 June 2019, in which it rejected the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by the UAE.
On 30 April 2019, the UAE raised preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application. In accordance with the Rules of Court, the proceedings on the merits of the case were then suspended. After holding public hearings in August and September 2020, the Court delivered its Judgment on the preliminary objections raised by the UAE on 4 February 2021. In its Judgment, the Court upheld the first preliminary objection that the dispute fell outside of the scope ratione materiae of CERD, and found that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain the Application filed by Qatar on 11 June 2018.
This overview is provided for information only and in no way involves the responsibility of the Court.
Institution of proceedings
11 June 2018
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Written proceedings
11 June 2018
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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22 March 2019
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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25 April 2019
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29 April 2019
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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30 August 2019
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Oral proceedings
Public sitting held on Wednesday 27 June 2018, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Thursday 28 June 2018, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Friday 29 June 2018, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Friday 29 June 2018, at 4.30 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Tuesday 7 May 2019, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Wednesday 8 May 2019, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Thursday 9 May 2019, at 10 a.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Thursday 9 May 2019, at 4.30 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Public sitting held on Monday 31 August 2020, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Public sitting held on Wednesday 2 September 2020, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Public sitting held on Friday 4 September 2020, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Public sitting held on Monday 7 September 2020, at 3 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Yusuf presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Qatar v. United Arab Emirates)
Procedure(s):Preliminary objections
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Other documents
3 July 2018
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3 July 2018
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5 July 2018
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5 July 2018
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Orders
Request for the indication of provisional measures of Qatar
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Fixing of time-limit: Written statement of observations and submissions on preliminary objections
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Request for the indication of provisional measures of the United Arab Emirates
Procedure(s):Provisional measures
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Judgments
Preliminary objections