LATVIA

CEDAW

OBJECTIONS MADE TO OTHER STATES PARTIES RESERVATIONS AND DECLARATIONS

(Ed. note: for the text targeted by the following objections, see the Reservations and Declarations of the State which is the subject of the objection)

4 October 2005

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

"The Government of the Republic of Latvia has carefully examined the reservations made by the United Arab Emirates to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women upon accession to the Convention regarding Article 2 (f), Article 15 (2), and Article 16 thereof.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia considers that the reservations made by the United Arab Emirates contain general reference to national law without making specific reference to the extent of the obligations the United Arab Emirates are accepting.

Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Latvia is of the opinion that these reservations contradict to the object and purpose of the Convention and in particular to obligation all States Parties to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia recalls Part VI, Article 28 of the Convention setting out that reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention are not permitted.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia therefore objects to the aforesaid reservations made by the United Arab Emirates to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

However, this objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the Republic of Latvia and the United Arab Emirates."

*****

6 December 2006

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

"The Government of the Republic of Latvia has carefully examined the reservations made by the Brunei Darussalam to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women upon accession to the Convention regrading paragraph 2 of Article 9, paragraph 1 of Article 29.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia considers that the aim of the said Convention is to grant the equality between men and women and therefore the distinction between genders regarding the rights to determinate the nationality of children is not in accordance with the aim of the said convention.

Moreover, the reservation made by the Brunei Darussalam regarding paragraph 1 of Article 29 is in accordance with the Convention and general principles of international law, because any state may declare that it is not bound by some mechanism of settlement of disputes.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia recalls Article 28 of the Convention setting out that reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention are not permitted.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia, therefore, objects to the aforesaid reservation made by the Brunei Darussalam to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

However, this objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the Republic of Latvia and the Brunei Darussalam. Thus, the Convention will become operative without the Brunei Darussalam benefiting from its reservation."

With regard to the reservations made by Oman upon accession:

"The Government of the Republic of Latvia has carefully examined the reservations made by the Sultanate of Oman to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women upon accession to the Convention regarding Article 9 paragraph 2, article 15 paragraph 4 and article 16.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia considers that the aim of the said Convention is to grant the equality between men and women and therefore the distinction between genders regarding the rights to determinate the nationality of children is not in accordance with the aim of the said convention.

Moreover, the rights to determine its own domicile, is a part of the free movement of person, is very important part of human rights and, thus no limitations may be permitted to the said right.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia is of the opinion that the equality between spouses is a very important issue and, therefore, no exemption regarding the said rights is acceptable.

Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Latvia is of the opinion that these reservations made by the Sultanate of Oman contradict to the object and purpose of the Convention and in particular to the obligation of all States Parties to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating the discrimination against women.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia recalls Part VI, Article 28 of the Convention setting out that reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention are not permitted.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia, 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.

However, this objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the Republic of Latvia and the Sultanate of Oman. Thus, the Convention will become operative without the Sultanate of Oman benefiting from its reservation."

*****

28 January 2010

“The Government of the Republic of Latvia has carefully examined the reservations made by the State of Qatar to the Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter - the Convention) upon accession to the Convention regarding Article 2 paragraph (a), Article 9 paragraph 2, Article 15 paragraph 1 and 4, Article 16 paragraph 1 (a), 1 (c) and 1 (f).

The Government of the Republic of Latvia considers that Article 2 of the Convention sets out the object and purpose of the Convention - to grant the equality between men and women. Therefore, no reservations should be allowed to the said Article. Moreover, the reservation submitted by the State of Qatar is drafted in a very unclear manner. It does not make clear whether the State of Qatar has deemed not to grant the equality between genders only regarding the inheritance of the Rule of State as it is prescribed by Article 8 of the Constitution of the State of Qatar or Qatar has deemed not to grant the equality between genders in all laws of the State and other articles of the Constitution.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia is willing to stress that the object of the said Convention is to grant the equality between men and women and therefore the distinction between genders regarding the rights to determine the nationality of children is not in line with the object and purpose of the Convention.

The reservation submitted by the State of Qatar regarding the provisions of the Convention granting the equality before the law due to the reasons mentioned above could not be considered in line with the object and purpose of the Convention.

The Government of the Republic of Latvia is emphasizing that the rights to determine human’s own domicile is a part of the free movement of person and therefore is very important part of human rights and, thus no limitations may be permitted to the said right.

Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Latvia believes that any person is entitled to fully enjoy the human rights and the marriage cannot restrict the human rights which the person is entitled to have.

Therefore, the Government of the Republic of Latvia has the opinion that the reservations made by the State of Qatar contradict to the object and purpose of the Convention and in particular to the obligations of all States Parties to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating the discrimination against women.

Moreover, the Government of the Republic of Latvia recalls Part VI, Article 28 of the Convention setting out that the reservations incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention are not permitted.

Therefore, the Government of the Republic of Latvia objects to all reservations made by the State of Qatar to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

However, this objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the Republic of Latvia and the State of Qatar. Thus, the Convention will become operative without the State of Qatar benefiting from its reservation.”