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UN Conventions & Understanding the UN System

International conventions cover areas including trade, disarmament, and human rights. A convention becomes legally binding to a state when that state ratifies it. Signing a convention indicates

support for the principles of the convention and the country’s intention to implement these principles to protect and promote and rights of all citizens.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UN Conventions on Environmental Protection and Climate Change

UN Conventions on Environmental Protection and Climate Change

Adopted on 15 September 1987, the Protocol is to date the only UN treaty ever that has been ratified every country on Earth - all 197 UN Member States.

The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

  • to conserve biological diversity
  • to use its components in a sustainable way
  • to share fairly and equitably the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources

The Convention was adopted on 22 May 2001 at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Stockholm, 22-23 May 2001.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants aims to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants which are hazardous chemicals toxic to humans and wildlife.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on 11 December 1997. Owing to a complex ratification process, it entered into force on 16 February 2005. Currently, there are 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by committing industrialized countries to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets. The Convention itself only asks those countries to adopt policies and measures on mitigation and to report periodically.

UN Conventions on Good Governance

UN Conventions on Good Governance

Entry into force: 14 December 2005, in accordance with article 68(1).

Under the terms of the United Nations General Assembly-approved Convention against Corruption, ratifying countries will enter into a legal obligation to:

  • Criminalize an array of corrupt practices;
  • Develop national institutions to prevent corrupt practices and to prosecute offenders;
  • Cooperate with other governments to recover stolen assets; and
  • Help each other, including with technical and financial assistance, to fight corruption, reduce its occurrence and reinforce integrity

Entry into force: 11 November 1990, in accordance with article 29(1)

This Convention provides comprehensive measures against drug trafficking, including provisions against money laundering and the diversion of precursor chemicals. It provides for international cooperation through, for example, extradition of drug traffickers, controlled deliveries and transfer of proceedings.

Understanding the UN System

Understanding the UN System