United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland63,64

Upon signature:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare that it is their intention to make certain reservations and declarations upon ratification of the Convention.

Upon ratification:

       "A. On behalf of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

       (a) The United Kingdom understands the main purpose of the Convention, in the light of the definition contained in Article 1, to be the reduction, in accordance with its terms, of discrimination against women, and does not therefore regard the Convention as imposing any requirement to repeal or modify any existing laws, regulations, customs or practices which provide for women to be treated more favourably than men, whether temporarily or in the longer term; the United Kingdom's undertakings under Article 4, paragraph 1, and other provisions of the Convention are to be construed accordingly."

       ...

       (c) In the light of the definition contained in Article 1, the United Kingdom's ratification is subject to the understanding that none of its obligations under the Convention shall be treated as extending to the succession to, or possession and enjoyment of, the Throne, the peerage, titles of honour, social precedence or armorial bearings, or as extending to the affairs of religious denominations or orders or any act done for the purpose of ensuring the combat effectiveness of the Armed Forces of the Crown."

       ...

       "Article 9

       The British Nationality Act 1981, which was brought into force with effect from January 1983, is based on principles which do not allow of any discrimination against women within the meaning of Article 1 as regards acquisition, change or retention of their nationality or as regards the nationality of theirchildren.  The United Kingdom's acceptance of Article 9 shall not, how ever, be taken to invalidate the continuation of certain temporary or transitional provisions which will ctinue in force beyond that date."

       ...

       "Article 11

       ...

       "The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply all United Kingdom legislation and the rules of pension schemes affecting retirement pensions, survivors' benefits and other benefits in relation to death or retirement (including retirement on grounds of redundancy), whether or not derived from a Social Security scheme."

       "This reservation will apply equally to any future legislation which may modify or replace such legislation, or the rules of pension schemes, on the understanding that the terms of such legislation will be compatible with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Convention."

       "The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply the following provisions of United Kingdom legislation concerning the benefits specified:

       ...

       b) increases of benefits for adult dependants under sections 44 to 47, 49 and 66 of the Social Security Act 1975 and under sections 44 to 47, 49 and 66 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975;

       ...

       The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply any non-discriminatory requirement for a qualifying period of employment or insurance for the application of the provisions contained in Article 11 (2)."

       "Article 15

       ...

       "In relation to Article 15, paragraph 3, the United Kingdom understands the intention of this provision to be that only those terms or elements of a contract or other private instrument which are discriminatory in the sense described are to be deemed null and void, but not necessarily the contract or instrument as a whole."

       "Article 16

       As regards sub-paragraph 1 (f) of Article 16, the United Kingdom does not regard the reference to the paramountcy of the interests of the children as being directly relevant to the elimination of discrimination against women, and declares in this connection that the legislation of the United Kingdom regulating adoption, while giving a principal position to the promotion of the children's welfare, does not give to the child's interests the same paramount place as in issues concerning custody over children."

       ...

       "B. On behalf of the Isle of Man, the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands:

       [Same reservations as the one made on behalf of the United Kingdom under paragraphs A (a), (c), and (d) except that in the of case d) it applies to the territories and their laws).]

       Article 1

       [Same reservation as the one made in respect of the United Kingdom except with regard to the absence of a reference to United Kingdom legislation.]

       Article 2

       [Same reservation as the one made in respect of the United Kingdom except that reference is made to the laws of the territories, and not the laws of the United Kingdom.]

       Article 9

       [Same reservation as the one made in respect of the United Kingdom.]

       Article 11

       [Same reservation as those made in respect of the United Kingdom except that a reference is made to the laws of the territories, and not to the laws of the United Kingdom.]

       "Also, as far as the territories are concerned, the specific benefits listed and which may be applied under the provisions of these territories' legislation are as follows:

       a) social security benefits for persons engaged in caring for a severely disabled person;

       b) increases of benefit for adult dependants;

       c) retirement pensions and survivors' benefits;

       d) family income supplements.

       "This reservation will apply equally to any future legislation which may modify or replace any of the provisions specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) above, on the understanding that the terms of such legislation will be compatible with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Convention."

       "The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply any non-discriminatory requirement for a qualifying period of employment or insurance for the application of the provisions contained in Article 11 (2)."

       Article 13, 15 and 16

       [Same reservations as those made on behalf the United Kingdom.]

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

6 September 2001

With regard to the reservation made by Saudi Arabia upon ratification:

       "The Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour to refer to 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, done at New York on 18 December 1979, which reads as follows:

       "In case of contradiction between any term of the Convention and the norms of Islamic Law, the Kingdom is not under obligation to observe the contradictory terms of the Convention."

       The Government of the United Kingdom note that a reservation which consists of a general reference to national law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention.  The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the aforesaid reservation made by the Government [of] the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

28 November 2001

With regard to the reservation made by Mauritania upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have examined the reservation made by the Government of Mauritania in respect of the Convention, which reads as follows:

       ‘Having seen and examined the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 1979, have approved and do approve it in each and every one of its parts which are not contrary to Islamic Sharia and are in accordance with our Constitution.

       The Government of the United Kingdom note that a reservation to a Convention which consists of a general reference to national law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention. The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the reservation made by the Government of Mauritania.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Mauritania."

5 March 2002

With regard to the reservations made by the Democratic People’s Republique of Korea upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom has examined the reservation made by the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 27 February in respect of the Convention, which reads as follows:

       ‘The Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraph (f) of Article 2...of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.'

       Paragraph (f) of Article 2 requires States Parties to take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women.  The Government of the United Kingdom notes that a reservation which excludes obligations of such a general nature does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention.  The Government of the United Kingdom therefore objects to the reservation made by the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

26 June 2003

With regard to the reservations made by the Syrian Arab Republic upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom have examined the reservations made by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (New York, 18 December 1979) on 28 March 2003 in respect of Article 2; and Article 16, paragraphs 1 (c), (d), (f) and (g), concerning equal rights and responsibilities during marriage and at its dissolution with regard to guardianship, the right to choose a family name, maintenance and adoption; and article 16, paragraph 2, concerning the legal effect of the betrothal and the marriage of a child, inasmuch as this provision is incompatible with the provisions of the Islamic Shariah.

       The Government of the United Kingdom note that the Syrian reservation specifies particular provisions of the Convention Articles to which the reservation is addressed.  Nevertheless this reservation does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention.  The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the aforesaid reservations made by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Syrian Arab Republic."

With regard to the reservations made by Bahrain upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom have examined the reservations made by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (New York, 18 December 1979) on 18 June 2002 in respect of Article 2, in order to ensure its implementation within the bounds of the provisions of the Islamic Shariah; and Article 16, in so far as it is incompatible with the provisions of the Islamic Shariah.

       The Government of the United Kingdom note that a reservation which consists of a general reference to national law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention.  The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the aforesaid reservations made by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Bahrain."

17 August 2005

With regard to the reservations made by the United Arab Emriates upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom have examined the reservations made by the Government of the United Arab Emirates to [the] Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (New York, 18 December 1979) on 6 October 2004 in respect of Articles 2 (f), 15 (2), and 16 on the applicability of Sharia law.

       The Government of the United Kingdom note that a reservation which consists of a general reference to a system of law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention.  The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the aforesaid reservations made by the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates."

With regard to the reservations made by the Micronesia (Federated States of) upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom have examined the reservations made by the Government of Micronesia to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (New York, 18 December 1979) on 9 September 2004 in respect of Article 11 (1) (d) on the enactment of comparable worth legislation.

       The Government of the United Kingdom object to the aforesaid reservation made by the Government of Micronesia.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Micronesia."

28 February 2007

With regard to the reservations made by Oman upon accession:

       "The Government of the United Kingdom have examined the reservations made by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (New York, 18 December 1979).

       In the view of the Government of the United Kingdom a reservation should clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention. A reservation which consists of a general reference to a system of law without specifying its contents does not do so. The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the Sultanate of Oman's reservation from "all provisions of the Convention not in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Sharia and legislation in force in the Sultanate of Oman".

       The Government of the United Kingdom further object to the Sultanate of Oman's reservations from Article 15, paragraph 4 and Article 16 of the Convention.

       These objections shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Oman."

14 June 2007

With regard to the reservations made by Brunei Darussalam upon accession:

       "The Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations.....has the honour to refer to the reservations made by the Government of Brunei Darussalam to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Agains Women (New York, 18  December 1979), which read:

       ‘The Government of Brunei Darussalam expresses its reservations regarding those provisions of the said  Convention that may be contrary to the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam and to the beliefs and principles of Islam, the official religion of Brunei Darussalam and, without prejudice to the generality of the said  reservations, expresses its reservations regarding paragraph 2 of Article 9 and paragraph 1 of Article 29 of the Convention.'

       In the view of the United Kingdom a reservation should clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention.  A reservation which consists of a general reference to a system of law without specifying its contents does not do so. The Government of the United Kingdom therefore object to the reservations made by the Government of Brunei Darussalam.

       This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Brunei Darussalam."

1 August 2017

With regard to the reservations made by Bahrain :

       “The Government of the United Kingdom notes that a modification of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (“the Convention”) was received on 5 August 2016.

       The Government of the United Kingdom notes that the Kingdom of Bahrain has substantively modified its reservations in respect of Article 2; Article 15, paragraph 4; and Article 16, stating that the implementation of these Articles will be “without breaching the provisions of the Islamic Shariah”.

       Notwithstanding that the Government of Bahrain has indicated that the modifications do not imply an extension of the original reservations, and that they instead constitute editorial amendments that do not place any limitations on Bahrain’s commitments upon accession, the Government of the United Kingdom notes that a condition of compatibility with another system of law has been added to the reservation to Article 15, paragraph 4; and has been reformulated in respect of the reservations to Articles 2 and 16. The Government of the United Kingdom further notes that a reservation which consists of a general reference to a system of law without specifying its contents does not clearly define for the other States Parties to the Convention the extent to which the reserving State has accepted the obligations of the Convention. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland therefore objects to the aforesaid reservations in respect of Article 2; Article 15, paragraph 4; and Article 16.”