all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”. Also, Article 15 of the UDHR states that “everyone has the right to a nationality” and “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality”, which Qatar must respect. 11. Qatar is also a party to other treaties that do preserve the right to nationality without discrimination. According to Article 7 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Qatar is party to, every child’s right to be registered immediately after a birth and to acquire a nationality – particularly if they would otherwise be stateless - is enshrined. Qatar’s violation of Article 7 of the CRC has been addressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which in 2017, stated that: With reference to its previous recommendation (see CRC/C/QAT/CO/2, para. 34) and those of other treaty bodies and the universal periodic review, the Committee urges the State party to review its legislation on nationality in order to ensure that nationality can be transmitted to children through both the maternal and paternal line without distinction, in particular for those children who would otherwise be stateless.10 12. In 2009, Qatar became a state party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). A total of 19 states however, objected to Qatar’s reservation to Article 9(2), made at the time of accession, that: States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of their children.11 The co-submitters note, however that paragraph 6 of General recommendation 21, made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, at its 13th session in 1994 states that: Nationality is critical to full participation in society. [...] Without status as nationals or citizens, women are deprived of the right to [...] access to public benefits and a choice of residence. Nationality should be capable of change by an adult woman and should not be arbitrarily removed because of marriage or dissolution of marriage or because her husband or father changes his nationality.12 13. Additionally, as stated by the CEDAW, Article 9 among others is “central to the object and purpose of the Convention and that the reservations impact negatively on the enjoyment by women of their rights.” Therefore, the maintenance of nationality laws which discriminate on the basis of gender are themselves in conflict with the object and purpose of the CEDAW and with the general obligation of all state parties to “agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women.”13 14. In terms of the arbitrary deprivation of nationality, the report of the Secretary-General on ‘Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality’14 addresses the regulation of loss and deprivation of nationality, particularly emphasising that ‘Any interference with the enjoyment of nationality has a significant impact on the enjoyment of rights. Therefore, loss or deprivation of nationality 10 CRC/C/QAT/CO/3-4 For details on Qatar’s reservations and the responses made by other states party, see: http://www.bayefsky.com/html/qatar_t2_cedaw.php 12 See: General Recommendation No. 21 (13th session, 1994), accessible at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/recommendations/recomm.htm 13 Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Eighteenth and nineteenth sessions), A/53/38/Rev.1, page 47 14 OHCHR, Secretary-General ‘Human rights and arbitrary deprivation of nationality 2013 11 3