Submitted by Denitsa on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) has been ratified by Amiri Decree in Qatar; as such, it has been directly incorporated into Qatari law and can be directly enforced in the courts. Qatar being a conservative Muslim country, the ratification of the CRC is subject to it not conflicting with any principles of Islamic Sharia. Interpretation of any relevant national law will be done in a manner that is consistent with the CRC or any other relevant international treaty. Children under the age of 18 are permitted to bring actions before national courts to challenge violations of their rights but must do so through a guardian; their father in the first instance, their father’s father or a court-appointed custodian if neither of the aforementioned is able or willing. Legal Aid Committees are set up in courts of first instance in order to assess whether a party to the litigation is eligible for legal aid and a list of the conditions for legal aid are stipulated in the legislation.
