For information only – not an official document

UNIS/L/323
17 November 2021

Iraq accedes to Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards

The 169th country to become party to the Convention

VIENNA, 17 November 2021 (UN Information Service) – With its accession to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (also commonly known as the "New York" Convention), effected on 11 November 2021, Iraq becomes the 169th State Party to the Convention. The Convention will enter into force for Iraq on 9 February 2022.

The "New York" Convention is widely recognized as a foundation instrument of international arbitration and requires courts of contracting States to give effect to an agreement to arbitrate when seized of an action in a matter covered by an arbitration agreement and to recognize and enforce awards made in other States, subject to specific limited exceptions.

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The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. Its mandate is to remove legal obstacles to international trade by progressively modernizing and harmonizing trade law. It prepares legal texts in a number of key areas such as international commercial dispute settlement, electronic commerce, insolvency, international payments, sale of goods, transport law, procurement and infrastructure development. UNCITRAL also provides technical assistance to law reform activities, including assisting Member States to review and assess their law reform needs and to draft the legislation required to implement UNCITRAL texts. The UNCITRAL Secretariat is located in Vienna, Austria, and maintains a website at uncitral.un.org.

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For information, please contact:

José Angelo Estrella Faria 
Principal Legal Officer and Head, Legislative Branch