Frequently Used Words in International Law
Convenant/Convention/Treaty:
An international agreement concluded between countries in writing
and governed by international law. For all purposes, all three
words mean the same thing.
Ratification:
A country's formal agreement to be legally bound by a treaty,
normally including some parliamentary process, after a country
has signed the treaty. As a result, the country becomes a State
Party. In the United Sates, ratification involves both the President
(and the executive departments) and the Senate.
Sign/Open for Signature:
After a treaty is formally adopted by its creating body (United
Nations or Organization of American States), it is presented to
the members of that body(opened for signature) for them to indicate
their agreement that the text of the treaty is as negotiated and
that they intend to ratify. To sign the treaty is to indicate
this intent. Signing in and of itself creates a presumption that
the signing country will abide by the provisions of the treaty
even before ratification.
Upon signing, ratifying or otherwise adhering to a treaty, a
country may make one or more of the following kinds of formal
statements:
Reservation:a statement which modifies or limits the substantive
effect of one or more of the provisions of the treaty.
Declaration: A statement giving notice of certain matters
of policy or principle without an intention to derogate from
the rights or obligations set out in the treaty.
Understanding: A statement intended merely to clarify
a matter or to deal with some matter incidental to the operation
of the treaty.
Source:
"Action Alert"
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