It must be emphasized that Syria is obliged to ensure the prohibition of discrimination based on gender, since it is part of customary international law as affirmed by the International Court of Justice. Therefore, all States are obliged to reinforce it, irrespective of their treaty ratifications. International treaties and conventions do not oblige the Syrian regime to adopt protection measures only, they are also obliged to adopt positive measures in order to achieve effective and equal women’s empowerment in all fields. According to article 2 of ICCPR67,Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant...”. Whereas article 2 of CEDAW imposes an obligation on all States to undertake measures and actions to eliminate the laws and abolish practices that discriminate, directly or indirectly, against women68.The article on which the Syrian regime initially entered reservations for being contrary to Sharia laws, which is the same pretext used against article 9 of the Convention. However, the regime soon issued Decree No. 23069 to withdraw the reservation as long as the measures are not in conflict with Sharia laws. This conveys that the Syrian regime does not commit to undertaking the measures deemed unfit to serve its visions regarding women’s rights. 79 It must be noted that article 19(c) of the Vienna70 Convention on the Law of Treaties stipulates that signatory States may not enter a reservation if it is incompatible with the purpose of the treaty. Which means that Syria’s reservation on articles 2 and 9 of the CEDAW is prohibited by international law. Thus, Syria must undertake all appropriate measures to abolish laws and practices discriminating against women, primarily granting them the right to maternal filiation and to confer nationality to their children. 67 68 Article 2 69 70 1969 71 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights- article 2&3 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)Legislative Decree No. 230/2017 Vienna Convention on the law of treaties (with annex). Concluded at Vienna on 23 May Universal Declaration of Human Rights HUMANS WITHOUT RIGHTS The right to nationality is a fundamental human right, as article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates71, ““Everyone has the right to a nationality”. Moreover, International Human Rights Law stresses that the right of States to determine their nationals is not absolute, and that States must comply with human rights, especially regarding the granting

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