Qatar applies to become a Member of the HCCH
Today, 10 April 2025, the State of Qatar applied to become a Member of the HCCH. At the ceremony, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, depositary of the HCCH Conventions, H.E. Dr Mutlaq Qahtani, Ambassador of Qatar, presented Qatar’s official request for Membership to Mr Rieks Boekholt, Senior Legal Officer at the Treaties Division of the depositary. Mr Boekholt then handed over the official communication from the Government of the Netherlands, proposing Qatar as a new Member of the HCCH, to the Secretary General of the HCCH, Dr Christophe Bernasconi.
The ceremony was also attended by:
- On behalf of the Embassy of the State of Qatar: Ms Hanadi Alshafai (Deputy Head of Mission), Mr Saad Al-Mana (First Secretary), Ms Alanoud AlMohammadi (Second Secretary), Mr Jaber Al-Kuwari (Third Secretary), Mr Tuana Jemil (Researcher for Government Affairs and Organisations), and Mr Yahya Isa (Photographer);
- On behalf of the HCCH: Dr Louwrens Kiestra (Legal Attaché to the Secretary General);
- On behalf of the depositary: Mr Stephan Hessels (Legal Officer, Treaties Division) and Ms Fatiha Abbach (Policy Officer, North Africa and Middle East Department).
On the same day, the Secretary General opened the six-month voting period during which all current Members of the HCCH may cast their vote on the proposal. Following this voting period, and provided a majority of votes are cast in favour, Qatar will be invited to become a Member by depositing an instrument of acceptance of the Statute of the HCCH.