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Analytical Guide


Reservations to Treaties*

last update: 12 September 2008
A. Mandate
    - 1993 recommendation of the Working-Group on the long-term programme of work  
    - G.A. Res.48/31 of 9 December 1993     (E, F, S, R, C, A)
B. Studies undertaken by the Secretariat and Reports of the Secretary-General
    None
C. Reports of the Working Group or Sub-Committee
    None
D. Reports of the Special Rapporteur
    1. Proposed a more neutral title such as "Reservations to treaties". Main issues: introduction; the Commission's previous work on reservations and the outcome; brief inventory of the problem of the topic; and the scope and form of the Commission's future work. 
      - First Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (47th session of the ILC (1995))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/470 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A) and 2 (F, S, R, C, A)) 
- ILC Report, A/50/10, (F), 1995, chp. VI(B), paras.416-491
    2. Considered the Commission's future work on the topic and proposed a provisional general outline of the study: first report on reservations to treaties and the outcome, the future work of the Commission on the topic, conclusion of the chapter. Dealt, on the one hand, with the legal regime for reservations and substantive rules applicable to reservations in general, and on the other hand, with the application of this general regime to human rights treaties. Contained a draft resolution addressed to the General Assembly on reservations to multilateral normative treaties. 
      - Second Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (48th session of the ILC (1996))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/477 (F, S, R, C, A) , Corr.1 (French only), Corr.2 (S, R, C, A) and Add.1 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1/Corr.1 (English only), Add.1/Corr.2 (French only), Add.1/Corr.3 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1/Corr.4 (French only)  
- ILC Report, A/51/10 (F), 1996, chp. VI(B), paras.108-138
    3. Definition of reservations (and of interpretative declarations) to treaties.  
      - Third Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (50th session of the ILC (1998))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/491 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (English only), Add. 1 (F, S, R, C, A), Add.2 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.2/Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A) , Add.3 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.3/Corr.1 (Arabic, Russian and French only), Add.4 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.4/Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A) Add.5 (F, S, R, C, A) , Add.6 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.6/Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/53/10 (F), 1998, chp. IX(B), paras.478, 481-520
    4. Review of the earlier work of the Commission on the topic, together with a general presentation of the fourth report.  

      - Fourth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (51st session of the ILC (1999))

       

- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/499 (F, S, R, C, A) and A/CN.4/478/Rev.1 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/54/10 (F), 1999, chp. VI(B) , paras. 466 and 467
    5. Review of the earlier work of the Commission on the topic. Consideration of alternatives to reservations and interpretative declarations and the formulation, modification and withdrawal of reservations and interpretative declarations. Consolidated text of all draft guidelines dealing with definitions adopted on first reading or proposed in the fifth report.
      - Fifth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (52nd session of the ILC (2000))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/508 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1 (F, S, R, C, A) , Add.2 (F, S, R, C, A), Add.3 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.3/Corr.1 (French only), and Add.4 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/55/10, 2000, chp.VII, paras. 623-661
- ILC Report, A/56/10, 2001, chp.VI, paras. 112-115 (consideration of A/CN.4/508/Add.3 and 4)
    6. Review of the modalities of formulating reservations and interpretative declarations (in particular their form and notification) as well as the publicity of reservations and interpretative declarations (their communication, recipients and obligations of the depositary), together with a consolidated text of all draft guidelines dealing with the formulation of reservations and interpretative declarations proposed in the fifth and sixth reports.
      - Sixth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (53rd session of the ILC (2001))
- U.N.Doc.A/CN.4/518 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1 (F, S, R, C, A), Add. 2 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.3 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/56/10, 2001, chp.VI, paras. 112-155
    7. Review of the earlier work on the topic; the lessons drawn from the consideration of the previous report; and the main developments of the past year. Consideration of withdrawal and modification of reservations to treaties and interpretative declarations, including the form and procedure for the withdrawal of a reservation as well as the effect of such a withdrawal; as well as the modification of reservations, together with a consolidated text of all draft guidelines adopted by the Commission or proposed by the Special Rapporteur.
      - Seventh Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (54th session of the ILC (2002))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/526 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1 (F, S, R, C, A) , Add.2 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.3 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/57/10, 2002, chp. IV, paras. 48 - 101
    8. Conclusion of the study on the withdrawal and modification of reservations and interpretative declarations, by considering first the issue of enlargement of the scope of reservations and second the issue of withdrawal and modification of interpretative declarations. The second part of the report was devoted to the formulation of objections to reservations and interpretative declarations.
      - Eighth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (55th session of the ILC (2003))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/535 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/58/10, 2003, chp. VIII, paras. 326 - 366
    9. Consideration of the object and definition of objections. Complementary to the eighth report on the formulation of objections to reservations and interpretative declarations.
      - Ninth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (56th session of the ILC (2004))

- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/544 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/59/10, 2004, chp. IX, paras. 248 - 295
    10. Discussion of the expression “validity of reservations”; the principle derived from the chapeau of article 19 of the Vienna Convention and the problems raised by express or implicit prohibitions of reservations, covered in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of that article; as well as of the compatibility of reservations with the object and purpose of the treaty, stipulated in article 19 (c) (validity or invalidity of reservations relating to the
    application of internal law, customary rules or the rules of jus cogens) and the determination of the validity of reservations and the consequences thereof.
      - Tenth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (57th session of the ILC (2005))
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/558 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A), Add.1 (F, S, R, C, A) and Add.1/Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A), and Add.2 (F, S, R, C, A).
- ILC Report, A/60/10, 2005, chp. X, paras. 333 - 438
    11. An overview of the consideration of the seventh to tenth reports, together with a consideration of recent developments with regard to reservations to treaties. Consideration of the formulation and withdrawal of objections to reservations.
      - Eleventh Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (59th session of the ILC (2007))

- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/574 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/62/10, 2007, chp. IV, paras. 50-67
    12. Procedure for the acceptance of reservations: express or tacit acceptance of reservations, form and procedure for express acceptances of reservations, acceptance of reservations to the constituent instrument of an international organization, and irreversibility of acceptances of reservations.
      - Twelfth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (59th session of the ILC (2007))

- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/584 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A)
- ILC Report, A/62/10, 2007, chp. IV, paras. 113-152
    13. Reactions to interpretative declarations (positive reaction — approval, negative reaction — opposition, reclassification, silence, and rules applicable to the formulation of an approval, opposition or reclassification in respect of an interpretative declaration) and conditional interpretative declarations
      - Thirteenth Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet (60th session of the ILC (2008))

- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/600 (F, S, R, C, A)

   
E. Reports of the Drafting Committee
    1. 49th session of the International Law Commission (1997)
      - Texts of a draft resolution and draft conclusions adopted by the Drafting Committee on first reading
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.540 (F, S, R, C, A)
    2. 50th session of the International Law Commission (1998)

- Titles and texts of draft guidelines of the Guide to Practice adopted by the Drafting Committee of the fiftieth session

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.563 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A) and 2 (French only)
    3. 51st session of the International Law Commission (1999)

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.575 (F)
    4. 52nd session of the International Law Commission (2000)

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.599 (F, S, R, C, A)
    5. 53rd session of the International Law Commission (2001)

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee

 - U.N.Doc.A/CN.4/L.603 (F, R, C, A) and Corr. 1 (F, R, C, A) and Corr.2 (English only) and A/CN.4/L.603/Rev.1 (Spanish only)
    6. 54th session of the International Law Commission (2002)

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.614 (F, S, R, C, A)
    7. 55th session of the International Law Commission (2003)

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee
- Statement of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.630 (F, S, R, C, A), Corr. 1 (French only) and Corr. 2
    8. 56th session of the International Law Commission (2004)

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.649 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (R, C, A)
    9. 57th session of the International Law Commission (2005)
 

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee
- Statement of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.665 (F, S, R, C, A)
    10. 58th session of the International Law Commission (2006)
 

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee
- Statement of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.685 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr. 1 (F, S, R, C, A)
    11. 59th session of the International Law Commission (2007)
 

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee
- Statement of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.705 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr. 1 (F, S, R, C, A)
    12. 60th session of the International Law Commission (2008)
 

- Titles and texts of the draft guidelines adopted by the Drafting Committee
- Statement of the Chairman of the Drafting Committee (3 June 2008, 7 July 2008 and 30 July 2008)

- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.723 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr. 1 (F, S, R, C, A), Corr. 2 (F only) and Corr. 3 (F, S, R, C, A)
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.739 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr. 1 (F, S, R, C, A)
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4//L.740 (F, S, R, C, A)
   
F. Comments by Governments
    None
G. Other
    1. 48th session of the International Law Commission (1996) 
      - Bibliography concerning reservations to treaties and questionnaires
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/478 (F, S, R, C, A) (annex to U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/477)
    2. 51st session of the International Law Commission (1999)
 
      - Bibliography concerning reservations to treaties (revised)
- U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/478/Rev.1 (F, S, R, C, A)
    3. 54th session of the International Law Commission (2002)

- Note by the Special Rapporteur on the first paragraph of draft guideline 2.1.7 adopted by the Drafting Committee

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/L.623 (F, S, R, C, A)
   
    4. 58th session of the International Law Commission (2006)

- Note by the Special Rapporteur on draft guideline 3.1.5, ““Definition of the object and purpose of the treaty”” (tenth report, document A/CN.4/558)

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/572 (F, S, R, C, A) and Corr.1 (F, S, R, C, A)
    5. 59th session of the International Law Commission (2006)

- Note by the Special Rapporteur on draft guideline 2.1.9, “Statement of reasons for reservations”

 - U.N. Doc. A/CN.4/586 (F, S, R, C, A)

- Summary of discussions, held in 2007, with United Nations and other experts in the field of human rights, including representatives from various human rights treaty bodies, prepared by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Alain Pellet

 - U.N. Doc. ILC(LIX)/RT/CRP.1 (E and F only)
   
H. Reports of the International Law Commission
    1. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its forty-fifth session, 3 May to 23 July 1993 
      - The Commission decided to include the topic in its agenda, on the understanding that the final form to be given to the work on this topic was to be decided after a preliminary study was presented to the General Assembly. 
      - Discussion in Plenary: 2317th (F) mtg (7 July 1993)
- ILC Report, A/48/10, (F), 1993, chp. VI(A), paras. 420, 425-440 
- Ybk, 1993, vII(2) (F) 

- Ybk, 1993, vI (F)

    2. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its forty-sixth session, 2 May to 22 July 1994 
      - The Commission appointed Mr. Alain Pellet Special Rapporteur for the topic. 
      -Discussion in Plenary: 2376th (F) mtg (22 July 1994)
- ILC Report, A/49/10, (F), 1994, chp. VI(A), para.382 
- Ybk, 1994, vII(2) (F)
 - Ybk, 1994, vI (F)
    3. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its forty-seventh session, 2 May to 21 July 1995 
      - The Commission endorsed the conclusions drawn from the debate by the Special Rapporteur as to the orientation of the future work on the topic and agreed that these conclusions constitute the result of the preliminary study requested by General Assembly resolutions 48/31 and 49/51. It authorized the Special Rapporteur to prepare a detailed questionnaire, as regards reservations to treaties, to ascertain the practice of, and problems encountered by, States and international organizations, particularly those which are depositaries of multilateral conventions.  
      - Discussion in Plenary: 2400th (F), 2401st (F), 2402nd (F), 2403rd (F) and 2404th (F) mtgs (14 to 22 June 1995) , 2406th (F) and 2407th (F) mtgs (28 and 29 June 1995), 2412th (F) and 2416th (F) mtgs (6 and 13 July 1995)

- ILC Report, A/50/10, (F), 1995, chp. VI, paras. 412-493 
- Ybk, 1995, vII(2) (F)
 
 



 

-Ybk, 1995, vI (F)

    4. Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its