6 CONTACTS WITH THE TREATY SECTION

6.1 General information

6.1.1 Contacting the Treaty Section

Treaty Section	Telephone: +1 212 963 5047
Office of Legal Affairs	Facsimile: +1 212 963 3693
United Nations	E-mail (general): treaty@un.org
New York, NY 10017	(registration): TreatyRegistration@un.org
USA	Web site: http://untreaty.un.org

6.1.2 Functions of the Treaty Section

As mentioned in the Introduction to this Handbook, the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations discharges the responsibility for the depositary functions of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the registration and publication of treaties submitted to the Secretariat. This section sets out some steps to follow in contacting the Treaty Section in relation to certain treaty actions.

6.1.3 Delivery of documents

Most treaty actions become effective only upon deposit of the relevant instrument with the Treaty Section. States are advised to deliver instruments directly to the Treaty Section to ensure they are promptly processed. The date of deposit is normally recorded as that on which the instrument is received at Headquarters, unless the instrument is subsequently deemed unacceptable. Persons who are merely delivering instruments (rather than, for example, signing a treaty) do not require full powers.

6.1.4 Translations

States are encouraged to provide courtesy translations, where feasible, in English and/or French of any instruments in other languages that are submitted to the Treaty Section. This facilitates the prompt processing of the relevant actions.

6.2 Signing a multilateral treaty

6.3 Ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to a multilateral treaty

6.4 Making a reservation or declaration to a multilateral treaty

1 The Secretary-General may accept reservations or declarations other than upon signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession on exceptional occasions.

6.5 Depositing a multilateral treaty with the Secretary-General

1. Well before the treaty is adopted, contact the Treaty Section, including on the question of the Secretary-General acting as depositary and on the final clauses.

2. Deliver a copy of the treaty (in particular, the draft final clauses of the treaty) to the Treaty Section for review, in the authentic languages of the treaty.

3. Following adoption, deposit the original treaty in all authentic languages with the Treaty Section. In order for the Treaty Section to prepare authentic texts and certified true copies in time for signature, provide camera-ready copies of the treaty as adopted (hard copy and electronic format - Microsoft Word 2000).