Public International Law Volume I
Public International Law Volume I
Answer First
Primary Text
PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW COMPENDIUM VOLUME I
Consent to be Bound by Part of a Treaty and Choice of
Differing Provisions
1. Without prejudice to articles 19 to 23, the consent of a
State to be bound by part of a treaty is effective only if the
treaty so permits or the other contracting States so agree.
2. The consent of a State to be bound by a treaty which
permits a choice between differing provisions is effective
only if it is made clear to which of the provisions the
consent relates.
ARTICLE 18
Obligation Not to Defeat the Object and Purpose of a
Treaty Prior to its Entry into Force
A State is obliged to refrain from acts which would defeat
the object and purpose of a treaty when:
(a) it has signed the treaty or has exchanged instruments
constituting the treaty subject to ratification, acceptance
or approval, until it shall have made its intention clear not
to become a party to the treaty; or
(b) it has expressed its consent to be bound by the treaty,
pending the entry into force of the treaty and provided
that such entry into force is not unduly delayed.
SECTION 2 Reservations
ARTICLE 19
Formulation of Reservations
A
State
may,
when
signing,
ratifying,
accepting,
approving or acceding to a treaty, formulate a reservation
unless:
(a) the reservation is prohibited by the treaty;
(b) the treaty provides that only specified reservations,
which do not include the reservation in question, may be
made; or
(c) in cases not failing under subparagraphs (a) and (b),
the reservation is incompatible with the object and
purpose of the treaty.
ARTICLE 20
Acceptance of and Objection to Reservations
1. A reservation expressly authorized by a treaty does not
require
any
subsequent
acceptance
by
the
other
contracting States unless the treaty so provides.
2. When it appears from the limited number of the
negotiating States and the object and purpose of a treaty
that the application of the treaty in its entirety between
all the parties is an essential condition of the consent of
each one to be bound by the treaty, a reservation requires
acceptance by all the parties.
3. When a treaty is a constituent instrument of an
international
organization
and
unless
it
otherwise
provides, a reservation requires the acceptance of the
competent organ of that organization.
4. In cases not falling under the preceding paragraphs
and unless the treaty otherwise provides:
(a)
acceptance
by
another
contracting
State
of
a
reservation constitutes the reserving State a party to the
treaty in relation to that other State if or when the treaty
is in force for those States;
(b)
an
objection
by another contracting State to a
reservation does not preclude the entry into force of the
treaty as between the objecting and reserving States
unless a contrary intention is definitely expressed by the
objecting State;
(c) an act expressing a State’s consent to be bound by the
treaty and containing a reservation is effective as soon as
at least one other contracting State has accepted the
reservation.
5. For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 4 and unless the
treaty otherwise provides, a reservation is considered to
have been accepted by a State if it shall have raised no
objection to the reservation by the end of a period of
twelve months after it was notified of the reservation or
by the date on which it expressed its consent to be bound
by the treaty, whichever is later.
ARTICLE 21
Legal Elects of Reservations and of Objections to
Reservations
1. A reservation established with regard to another party
in accordance with articles 19, 20 and 23:
(a) modifies for the reserving State in its relations with
that other party the provisions of the treaty to which the
reservation relates to the extent of the reservation; and
(b) modifies those provisions to the same extent for that
other party in its relations with the reserving State.
2. The reservation does not modify the provisions of the
treaty for the other parties to the treaty inter se.
3. When a State objecting to a reservation has not
opposed the entry into force of the treaty between itself
and the reserving State, the provisions to which the
reservation relates do not apply as between the two
States to the extent of the reservation.
ARTICLE 22
Withdrawal of Reservations and of Objections to
Reservations
1. Unless the treaty otherwise provides, a reservation may
be withdrawn at any time and the consent of a State
which has accepted the reservation is not required for its
withdrawal.
2. Unless the treaty otherwise provides, an objection to a
reservation may be withdrawn at any time.
3. Unless the treaty otherwise provides, or it is otherwise
agreed:
(a) the withdrawal of a reservation becomes operative in
relation to another contracting State only when notice of
it has been received by that State;
(b)
the withdrawal of an objection to a reservation
becomes operative only when notice of it has been
received by the State which formulated the reservation.
ARTICLE 23
Procedure Regarding Reservations
1. A reservation, an express acceptance of a reservation
and an objection to a reservation must be formulated in
writing and communicated to the contracting States and
other States entitled to become parties to the treaty.
2. If formulated when signing the treaty subject to
ratification, acceptance or approval, a reservation must be
formally
confirmed
by
the
reserving
State
when
expressing its consent to be bound by the treaty. In such
a case the reservation shall be considered as having been
made on the date of its confirmation.
3.
An
express
acceptance
of, or an objection to, a
reservation
made
previously
to
confirmation
of
the
reservation does not itself require confirmation.
4. The withdrawal of a reservation or of an objection to a
reservation must be formulated in writing.
SECTION 3 Entry Into Force and Provisional,
Application of Treaties
ARTICLE 24
Entry Into Force
1. A treaty enters into force in such manner and upon
such date as it may provide or as the negotiating States
may agree.
2. Failing any such provision or agreement, a treaty enters
into force as soon as consent to be bound by the treaty
has been established for all the negotiating States.
3. When the consent of a State to be bound by a treaty is
established on a date after the treaty has come into force,
© Compiled by RGL
105 of 192
Use With Care
Definitions and exceptions often appear before or after this text.
Court decisions may interpret, limit, or apply this provision.
Confirm amendment, repeal, effectivity, and official publication.