COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES
UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION

United Arab Emirates

292. At its 1028th meeting, on 10 March 1994 (see CERD/C/SR.1028), the Committee reviewed the implementation of the Convention by the United Arab Emirates based on its previous report (CERD/C/130/Add.1) and the consideration thereof by the Committee (see CERD/C/SR.824). The Committee noted that no new report had been received since 1986.

293. Members of the Committee requested specific information on the composition of the population, particularly the number of citizens, foreigners and immigrants. Reference was made to the lack of information on the scope of the rights of foreign workers, the right of access to education for the children of foreign workers and the rights of workers to form trade unions. Members of the Committee wished to know whether freedom of conscience and opinion was effectively protected for all; how human rights were protected in practice, in view of the jurisdictional duality that existed between the Shariah and the civil courts; and what steps had been taken to implement fully article 4 of the Convention.

Concluding observations

294. At its 1037th meeting, on 15 March 1994, the Committee adopted the following concluding observations.

295. It is deeply regretted that the United Arab Emirates has not responded to the Committee's invitations to submit a report since 1986 and to take part in its deliberations. It is recalled that, in accordance with article 9 of the Convention, the United Arab Emirates is under the obligation to submit periodic reports on the measures it has taken to implement the provisions of the Convention. The State party is therefore requested to comply with its reporting obligations under the Convention and to submit its core document and periodic report without further delay. In this connection, the attention of the Government of the United Arab Emirates is drawn to the guidelines for the preparation of State party core documents (HRI/GEN/1) and the preparation of periodic reports under the Convention (CERD/C/70/Rev.3) and to the possibility of requesting technical assistance from the Centre for Human Rights for the preparation of such reports.

296. Finally, the Committee recommends that the next report submitted by the State party contain responses to the various comments made by the members of the Committee both in 1986 and at the present session, including more precise information on the actual situation in the State party as regards the implementation of the Convention for all sectors of the population; the measures taken to give effect to the provisions of article 4 of the Convention; the situation of foreign workers, including domestics; the protection of the freedoms of religious expression and of assembly; the effect of the Gulf war on the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms; the reform of the Penal Code; and the respective competencies of non-religious courts and religious courts regarding cases of racial discrimination.

297. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to the amendment to article 8, paragraph 6, of the Convention, which was approved by the fifteenth meeting of States parties and by the General Assembly in its resolution 47/111, and encourages the State party to expedite its action formally to accept that amendment.