The Historic Archives aim to preserve, in a vivid and informative manner, the audiovisual heritage of the United Nations in the progressive development and codification of international law and thereby promote a better understanding of the essential role of the United Nations in the advancement of the rule of law.
The Historic Archives provide a unique multi-media resource for teaching, studying and researching significant legal instruments, on virtually every subject of international law, which have been adopted under the auspices of the United Nations and related agencies or confer a role on the Organization.
Each page of the Historic Archives is devoted to a particular legal instrument. It contains a brief introduction to the instrument prepared by an eminent international law scholar or practitioner with special expertise on the subject, information on its procedural history and related documents, as well as the text and status of the instrument. Each legal instrument is accompanied by audiovisual materials, as available, including film footage, audio recordings and photos, relating to the negotiation and adoption of the instrument at meetings or diplomatic conferences.
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General Assembly resolution 95 (I) of 11 December 1946 (Affirmation of the Principles of International Law recognized by the Charter of the Nürnberg Tribunal)
(Introductory note by Antonio Cassese)
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Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948
(Introductory note by William Schabas) |
International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, 1973
(Introductory note by John Dugard) |
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents, 1973
(Introductory note by Sir Michael Wood) |
International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, 1979
(Forthcoming introductory note by Ben Saul) |
| Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, 1985 |
Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, 1993
(Introductory note by Fausto Pocar) |
Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, 1994
(Introductory note by Michael Scharf) |
Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, 1994,
and the 1996 Supplementary Declaration thereto
(Introductory note by Rohan Perera) |
Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, 1994, and the Optional Protocol thereto, 2005
(Introductory note by Mahnoush H. Arsanjani)
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International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, 1997
(Introductory note by Pierre Klein)
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International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, 1999
(Introductory note by Pierre Klein) |
| International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, 2001 |
Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the prosecution under Cambodian law of crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea, 2003
(Forthcoming introductory note by Michael Scharf) |
| United Nations Convention against Corruption, 2003 |
International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, 2005
(Introductory note by Rohan Perera) |
Agreement between the United Nations and the Lebanese Republic on the establishment of a Special Tribunal for Lebanon, 2007
(Forthcoming introductory note by Nicolas Michel) |
F o r t h c o m i n g |
| Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, 1950 |
| Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998 |
| Statute for the Special Court for Sierra Leone, 2000 |
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes (with protocols), 2000
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Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, 1960
(Introductory note by Edward McWhinney) |
General Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) of 14 December 1962 (Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources)
(Forthcoming introductory note by Adelardus Kilangi) |
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Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961
(Introductory note by Eileen Denza) |
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963
(Introductory note by Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo) |
Convention on Special Missions, 1969
(Introductory note by Sir Michael Wood) |
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Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 1968
(Forthcoming introductory note by Jozef Goldblat) |
| Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction, 1972 |
| Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, 1976 |
Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects (with Protocols), 1980
(Introductory note by Yves Sandoz)
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Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, 1992
(Introductory note by Michael Bothe)
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Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 1996
(Introductory note by Thomas Graham)
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Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, 1997
(Introductory note by Stuart Casey-Maslen)
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Convention on Cluster Munitions, 2008
(Forthcoming introductory note by Kevin Riordan) |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| Arms Trade Treaty, 2013 |
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Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972
(Forthcoming introductory note by Abdulqawi A. Yusuf) |
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, 2005
(Forthcoming introductory note by Hélène Ruiz Fabri) |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954
(Introductory note by Roger O'Keefe) |
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Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Declaration), 1972 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992
(Introductory note by Günther Handl) |
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, 1985, and Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987
(Introductory note by Edith Brown Weiss)
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Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, 1989
(Introductory note by Katharina Kummer Peiry)
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Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the
Convention on Biological Diversity, 2000
(Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes) |
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992
(Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes) |
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997
(Introductory note by Laurence Boisson de Chazournes) |
Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, 1997
(Introductory note by Stephen McCaffrey) |
Articles on Prevention of Transboundary Harm from Hazardous Activities, 2001
(Forthcoming introductory note by Pemmaraju Sreenivasa Rao) |
Principles on the Allocation of Loss in the Case of Transboundary Harm Arising Out of Hazardous Activities, 2006
(Forthcoming introductory note by Pemmaraju Sreenivasa Rao) |
| Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifers, 2008 |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Dersertification, Particularly in Africa, 1994 |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2003
(Introductory note by Gian Luca Burci) |
International Health Regulations
(Introductory note by Gian Luca Burci) |
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
(Introductory note by Antônio Cançado Trindade) |
| International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965 |
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966
(Introductory note by Christian Tomuschat) |
| International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966 |
| Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, 1968 |
Proclamation of Teheran, 1968
(Introductory note by Djamchid Momtaz)
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Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979
(Introductory note by Dubravka Šimonović) |
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984
(Introductory note by Hans Danelius) |
| Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in Which They Live, 1985 |
| Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986 |
| Convention on the Rights of the Child (with protocols), 1989 |
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1999
(Introductory note by Jane Connors) |
Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, 2005
(Introductory note by Theo van Boven) |
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006
(Forthcoming introductory note by Don MacKay) |
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007
(Introductory note by Siegfried Wiessner) |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 1981 |
| International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, 1999 |
| International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 2006 |
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Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, 1958
(Introductory note by Albert Jan van den Berg) |
Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, 1974
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Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order, 1974
(Introductory note by Ahmed Mahiou) |
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, 1980
(Introductory note by Harry M. Flechtner) |
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| International Humanitarian Law |
| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| The Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 |
| Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 |
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| Charter of the United Nations, 1945 |
Statute of the International Court of Justice, 1945
(Forthcoming introductory note by Antônio Cançado Trindade) |
Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946, and Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, 1947
(Introductory note by August Reinisch) |
Statute of the International Law Commission, 1947
(Introductory note by Sir Michael Wood) |
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Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, 2001
(Introductory note by James Crawford) |
Articles on Diplomatic Protection, 2004
(Forthcoming introductory note by John Dugard) |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| General Assembly resolution 66/100 of 9 December 2011 (Responsibility of International Organizations) |
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Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, 1966
(Introductory note by Vladimir Kopal) |
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1958 Geneva Conventions on the Law of the Sea
(Introductory note by Tullio Treves) |
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982
(Introductory note by Tullio Treves) |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, 1995 |
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Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969
(Introductory note by Karl Zemanek) |
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations, 1986
(Introductory note by Karl Zemanek) |
| Fragmentation of International Law: Difficulties Arising from the Diversification and Expansion of International Law, 2006 |
| Reservations to Treaties, 2011 |
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| F o r t h c o m i n g |
| General Assembly resolution 66/99 of 9 December 2011 (Effects of Armed Conflicts on Treaties) |
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General Assembly resolution 377 (V) of 3 November 1950 (Uniting for Peace)
(Introductory note by Christian Tomuschat) |
General Assembly resolution 2131 (XX) of 21 December 1965 (Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States and the Protection of Their Independence and Sovereignty)
(Introductory note by Edward McWhinney) |
Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, 1970
(Forthcoming introductory note by Georges Abi-Saab) |
General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974 (Definition of Aggression)
(Introductory note by Elizabeth Wilmshurst) |
Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, 1982
(Introductory note by Emmanuel Roucounas) |
Declaration on the Enhancement of the Effectiveness of the Principle of Refraining from the Threat or Use of Force in International Relations, 1987
(Forthcoming introductory note by Tullio Treves) |
| Declaration on the Prevention and Removal of Disputes and Situations Which May Threaten International Peace and Security and on the Role of the United Nations in this Field, 1988 |
Declaration on Fact-finding by the United Nations in the Field of the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, 1991
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| United Nations Model Rules for the Conciliation of Disputes between States, 1995 |
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Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951, and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967
(Introductory note by Guy S. Goodwin-Gill) |
Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, 1954
(Introductory note by Guy S. Goodwin-Gill) |
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, 1961
(Introductory note by Guy S. Goodwin-Gill) |
Declaration on Territorial Asylum, 1967
(Introductory note by Guy S. Goodwin-Gill) |
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Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties, 1978
(Introductory note by Anthony Aust) |
Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of State Property, Archives and Debts, 1983
(Introductory note by Anthony Aust) |
Articles on Nationality of Natural Persons in Relation to the Succession of States, 2000
(Forthcoming introductory note by Václav Mikulka) |
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