Depositary

For the 2014 Polish documentary film, see Depositary (film).

In international law, a depositary is a government or organization to which a multilateral treaty is entrusted.^[1] The principal functions of a depositary are codified in Article 77 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.^[2]

Belgium

Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves as the depositary for multilateral treaties such as the treaty establishing Eurocontrol.^[3]

Canada

Canada's Global Affairs Canada Treaty Law Division serves as the depositary for multilateral treaties such as the Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement.^[4] Canada is also one of two depositories for the Treaty on Open Skies along with Hungary.

France

France's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs serves as the depositary for multilateral treaties such as the Geneva Protocol.^[5]

Italy

Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves as the depositary for multilateral treaties such as the Treaty of Rome, which established the European Economic Community (a predecessor to the European Union).^[6]

New Zealand

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade serves as the depositary for multilateral treaties such as the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement and Trans-Pacific Partnership.^[7]

Russia

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves as the depositary for multilateral treaties such as the Biological Weapons Convention, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.^[8]

Switzerland

Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland serves as the depositary for 78 multilateral treaties including the Geneva Conventions.^[9]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office currently acts as the depositary for documents such as Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, Constitution of UNESCO, and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction.^[10][11] Public copies are supplied by The Stationery Office and the British Library.^[11]

United States

The United States Department of State is currently the depositary for more than 200 multilateral treaties, including the Charter of the United Nations, Convention on International Civil Aviation, North Atlantic Treaty, Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, and the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.^[12] Generally, the United States executes its responsibilities in accordance with the will of each individual treaty or, in lieu of such provision, as per the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.^[12]

United Nations Secretary-General

The United Nations Secretary-General serves as the depositary for numerous multilateral treaties, including the Chemical Weapons Convention, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.^[13]

References

1. Aust, Anthony (2010-04-30). Handbook of International Law (2 ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 100–102. ISBN 978-0-521-11705-0.
2. . Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
3. "Liste des accords dont la Belgique est dépositaire" (in French). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium. Retrieved 2018-12-26.
4. "Welcome to the Treaty Law Division". Treaty Law Division. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
5. "Protocole concernant la prohibition d'emploi à la guerre de gaz asphyxiants, toxiques ou similaires et de moyens bactériologiques, fait à Genève le 17 juin 1925" (in French). Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of France. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
6. "Archivio dei Trattati internazionali Online" (in Italian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy. Retrieved 2018-12-26. 2016-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
7. . Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
8. "Перечень многосторонних международных договоров (Российская Федерация является депозитарием)" (in Russian). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
9. "Depositary". Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
10. "Treaties for which the UK is depositary". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
11. "Depositary". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
12. "Multilateral Treaties for which the United States is Depositary". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
13. "Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General". United Nations Treaty Series. Retrieved 2013-07-24.

External links

• SUMMARY OF PRACTICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AS DEPOSITARY OF MULTILATERAL TREATIES ST/LEG/7/Rev.l United Nations, 1994 ISBN 92-1-133477-2