Ireland
2 October 2001
With regard to the reservations made by Saudi Arabia upon ratification:
"The Government of Ireland has examined the reservation made, on 7 September 2000, by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, in respect of any divergence between the terms of the Convention and the norms of Islamic law. It has also examined the reservation made on the same date by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Article 9, paragraph 2 of the Convention concerning the granting to women of equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of their children.
As to the former of the aforesaid reservations, the Government of Ireland is of the view that a reservation which consists of a general reference to religious law without specifying the content thereof and which does not clearly specify the provisions of the Convention to which it applies and the extent of the derogation therefrom, may cast doubts on the commitment of the reserving State to fulfil its obligations under the Convention. The Government of Ireland is furthermore of the view that such a general reservation may undermine the basis of international treaty law.
As to the reservation to Article 9, paragraph 2 of the Convention, the Government of Ireland considers that such a reservation aims to exclude one obligation of non-discrimination which is so important in the context of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as to render this reservation contrary to the essence of the Convention. The Government of Ireland notes in this connection that Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Convention provides that a reservation incompatible with the object andpurpose of the Convention shall not be permitted.
The Government of Ireland moreover recalls that by ratifying the Convention, a State commits itself to adopt the measures required for the elimination ofdiscrimination, in all its forms and manifestations, against women.
The Government of Ireland therefore objects to the aforesaid reservations made by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
19 December 2006
With regard to the reservations made by Brunei Darussalam upon accession:
"The Government of Ireland has examined the reservation made on 24 May 2006 by Brunei Darussalam to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women at the time of its accession thereto.
The Government of Ireland notes that Brunei Darussalam subjects application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam and to the beliefs and principles of Islam. The Government of Ireland is of the view that a reservation which consists of a general reference to religious law and to the Constitution of the reserving State and which does not clearly specify the provisions of the Convention to which it applies and the extent of the derogation therefrom, may cast doubts on the commitment of the reserving State to fulfil its obligations under the Convention. The Government of Ireland is furthermore of the view that such a general reservation may undermine the basis of international treaty law and is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention. The Government of Ireland recalls that according to Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Convention, a reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention shall not be permitted.
The Government of Ireland further considers that the reservation made with respect to Article 9, paragraph 2 is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention.
The Government of Ireland therefore objects tothe aforesaid reservations made by the Brunei Darussalam to the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women.
This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between Ireland and Brunei Darussalam."
With regard to the reservations made by Oman upon accession:
"The Government of Ireland has examined the reservation made on 7 February 2006 by the Sultanate of Oman to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women at the time of its accession thereto.
The Government of Ireland notes that the Sultanate of Oman subjects application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to the provisions of Islamic sharia and legislation in force in the Sultanate. The Government of Ireland is of the view that a reservation which consists of a general reference to religious law and to the Constitution of the reserving State and which does not clearly specify the provisions of the Convention to which it applies and the extent of the derogation therefrom, may cast doubts on the commitment of the reserving state to fulfil its obligations under the Convention. The Government of Ireland is furthermore of the view that such a general reservation may undermine the basis of international treaty law and is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention. The Government of Ireland recalls that according to Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Convention, a reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention shall not be permitted.
The Government of Ireland further considers that the reservations made with respect to Article 9, paragraph 2, Article 15, paragraph 4 and Article 16 of the Convention are incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention.
The Government of Ireland therefore objects to the aforesaid reservations made by the Sultanate of Oman to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between Ireland and the Sultanate of Oman.”
28 April 2010
With regards to the reservations made by Qatar upon accession:
“The Government of Ireland has examined the reservations made by the State of Qatar upon accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The Government of Ireland believes that the reservations to article 2 (a), article 9 paragraph 2, article 15 paragraph 1, article 15 paragraph 4, article 16 paragraph 1 (a) and (c), article 16 paragraph 1 (f) and declarations to article 1 and 5 (a), if put into practice, would inevitably result in discrimination against women on the basis of sex. Such reservations seek to exclude the State of Qatar from implementing key provisions of the Convention in their jurisdiction which are necessary to achieve its object and purpose.
The Government of Ireland recalls that according to article 28 paragraph 2 of the Convention, a reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention shall not be permitted.
The Government of Ireland is further of the view that a reservation which consists of a general reference to religious law without specifying the content thereof or the extent to which it requires the State to derogate from the cited provisions of the Convention, may cast doubts on the commitment of the reserving State to fulfill its obligations under the Convention. The Government of Ireland is furthermore of the view that such a general reservation may undermine the basis of international treaty law.
The Government of Ireland therefore objects to the aforesaid reservations made by the State of Qatar to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between Irelandand the State of Qatar.”