A/HRC/14/43/Add.3 6. According to the official figures provided in 2006 by the United Arab Emirates,1 more than 65 per cent of the population live in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai and the Emirati nationals account for approximately 21 per cent of the population. The Special Rapporteur notes however that, according to the aforementioned figures and some of his interlocutor’s views, the Emirati nationals may in reality account for less than 17 per cent of the total population residing in the country. 7. The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that the United Arab Emirates is therefore a unique country where non-nationals constitute the vast majority of the population and where nationals represent a minority in their own country. The influx of foreign workers, which has been supported by the Government to satisfy the demands of a fast-growing economy in the last three decades, has deeply modified the demographic balance within society. With more than 180 nationalities represented on its soil, the United Arab Emirates has undoubtedly become one of the most culturally diverse countries on earth. C. International human rights instruments 8. At the international level, the United Arab Emirates is a State party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United Arab Emirates is however neither a party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, nor to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 9. The United Arab Emirates has ratified a number of fundamental International Labour Organization conventions, including Conventions No. 29 (1930) concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour; No. 100 (1951) concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women; No. 105 (1957) concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour; No. 111 (1958) concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation; No. 138 (1973) concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and No. 182 (1999) concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. However, the United Arab Emirates has not ratified the fundamental International Labour Organization Conventions No. 87 (1948) concerning the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and No. 98 (1949) concerning the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively. 10. According to the recent report submitted by the United Arab Emirates to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination,2 the Constitution makes it clear that a treaty which has been ratified pursuant to a federal decree and published in the Official Gazette carries the force of law and has the status of a State law, if the decree on accession, or ratification, provides that the treaty shall enter into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette. In this way, the treaty becomes a State law which the Cabinet and relevant minister are bound to enforce. 1 2 GE.10-12576 See CERD/C/ARE/17, para. 13. See CERD/C/ARE/12-17, para. 50. 5