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Explore international treaties, agreements, and conventions with signing years and descriptions that shape global policies, plus India's ratified conventions
International Treaties and Agreements: In our interconnected world, International Treaties and Agreements are essential for promoting global cooperation, peace, and progress. These treaties are the formal arrangements between countries that govern everything from human rights and environmental protection to economic trade and defence collaborations. Countries ratify and approve these agreements while committing to global standards and jointly addressing cross-border challenges. In this comprehensive and informative guidepost, we have included some of the most important international treaties and a list of conventions and agreements ratified by India to understand their impact on the world stage.
International treaties and agreements are formal arrangements between two or more nations, setting forth obligations, rights, and cooperation on issues of shared interest or global significance. These agreements are foundational to the international legal framework, helping to regulate various aspects of relations between countries, from trade and security to environmental protection and human rights.
Treaties are legally binding commitments often ratified by national governments, creating enforceable duties in areas such as disarmament, climate action, and humanitarian rights. Examples include the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Paris Agreement.
Agreements, on the other hand, can be less formal and binding than treaties, typically involving specific terms and conditions in areas like trade partnerships or scientific cooperation. Some agreements may not require ratification but still carry significant diplomatic importance, such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
| Type | Binding Nature | Requires Ratification |
| Agreements | Depends on terms | Sometimes |
| Charters | Binding for members | Yes |
| Conventions | Binding upon ratification | Yes |
| Declarations | Non-binding | No |
| MoUs | Generally non-binding | No |
| Protocols | Binding upon ratification | Yes |
| Treaties | Legally binding | Yes |
International treaties, agreements, and conventions have shaped global policies and fostered cooperation across diverse fields such as peace, environmental protection, trade, human rights, etc. Here is a list of some of the important international treaties, agreements and conventions that have had a significant impact on international relations and global practices:
| Other Notable International Treaties and Agreements | ||
| Year | Name of Treaty/Convention | Description |
| 1919 | Treaty of Versailles | Ended WWI; imposed heavy reparations on Germany, leading to geopolitical changes. |
| 1920 | Treaty of Trianon | Redrew boundaries in Central Europe; significant for understanding European history post-WWI. |
| 1928 | Kellogg-Briand Pact | An international agreement attempting to prevent war as a means of resolving disputes. |
| 1945 | United Nations Charter | Established the United Nations, aimed at preventing future wars and fostering cooperation. |
| 1947 | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) | Predecessor to WTO, significant in understanding international trade agreements. |
| 1949 | North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) | Formed a military alliance between North American and European nations to counter Soviet influence. |
| 1951 | Genocide Convention | Defined genocide in legal terms and committed signatories to preventing and punishing it. |
| 1959 | Antarctic Treaty System | Established Antarctica as a scientific preserve, banned military activity on the continent. |
| 1960 | Indus Waters Treaty | India-Pakistan treaty, significant for regional water-sharing agreements. |
| 1968 | Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) | Aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament. |
| 1971 | Ramsar Convention | International treaty for the conservation of wetlands, relevant to environmental protection. |
| 1972 | Biological Weapons Convention | Prohibits the development, production, and stockpiling of biological weapons. |
| 1985 | Schengen Agreement | Removed border controls within Europe, establishing free movement of people within the EU. |
| 1987 | Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) | US-Soviet treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear and conventional missiles. |
| 1989 | Montreal Protocol | A global agreement to protect the ozone layer by phasing out substances causing ozone depletion. |
| 1992 | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) | Established framework for addressing climate change; led to the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. |
| 1994 | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) | Established a trilateral trade bloc between the US, Canada, and Mexico. |
| 1997 | Kyoto Protocol | International treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; foundational for climate policy. |
| 2000 | United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime | Combats organized crime, including human trafficking and smuggling. |
| 2000 | Cotonou Agreement | Economic and political relations between EU and ACP countries. |
| 2001 | Treaty of Nice | EU institutional reforms, laying groundwork for further expansion. |
| 2001 | Convention on Cybercrime | First international treaty on internet and computer crime. |
| 2002 | ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution | Addressing air pollution affecting Southeast Asia. |
| 2003 | WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control | Global response to the tobacco epidemic. |
| 2005 | Energy Community Treaty | Integrates EU energy market with South East Europe. |
| 2007 | Treaty of Lisbon | Major reforms to EU structures and decision-making processes. |
| 2008 | UNASUR Constitutive Treaty | Formation of the Union of South American Nations. |
| 2010 | Nagoya Protocol | Aims at fair sharing of genetic resources’ benefits. |
| 2015 | Paris Agreement | Landmark international accord to combat climate change. |
| 2017 | Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons | Legally binding prohibition of nuclear weapons. |
| 2018 | Prespa Agreement | Resolved the naming dispute between Greece and North Macedonia. |
| 2019 | Treaty of Aachen | Strengthening Franco-German cooperation in EU policies. |
| 2020 | Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan | The peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban. |
| 2022 | Ethiopia–Tigray Peace Agreement | Ended conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. |
| 2023 | Treaty of Jeddah (2023) | Facilitated a week-long ceasefire in the 2023 Sudan conflict but expired two days after the signing due to a sudden surge in hostilities. |
India, as a member of the global community, has ratified many treaties that address human rights, environmental protection, and trade. Here is a list of conventions and agreements ratified by India that highlight its commitment to international cooperation:
| Sl. No. | Name of the Convention/Treaty/Agreement | Date of Accession/Ratification | Entry into Force | Significance and Focus |
| 1 | WIPO Convention | January 31, 1975 | May 1, 1975 | Establishes India’s membership in WIPO, enhancing global intellectual property cooperation. |
| 2 | Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property | September 7, 1998 | December 7, 1998 | Protects industrial property (patents, trademarks) internationally, promoting innovation and trade. |
| 3 | Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works | April 23, 1928 | April 1, 1928 | Ensures copyright protection for creators, facilitating the global exchange of creative works. |
| 4 | Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms | September 17, 2001 | December 17, 2001 | Simplifies patenting processes for microorganisms, boosting biotechnological research and innovation. |
| 5 | Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol | September 19, 1983 | October 19, 1983 | Protects the Olympic symbol to preserve its integrity and prevent unauthorized commercial use. |
| 6 | Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) | September 7, 1998 | December 7, 1998 | Streamlines the international patent application process, supporting Indian inventors in global markets. |
| 7 | Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms | November 1, 1974 | February 12, 1975 | Protects against unauthorized duplication of phonograms, aiding Indian producers and artists. |
| 8 | Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement | April 8, 2013 | July 8, 2013 | Facilitates international registration of trademarks, benefiting Indian brands abroad. |
| 9 | Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for the Blind | June 24, 2014 | September 30, 2016 | Improves access to published works for visually impaired individuals, promoting inclusivity. |
| 10 | WIPO Copyright Treaty | September 25, 2018 | December 25, 2018 | Provides copyright protections in the digital environment, supporting Indian creators online. |
| 11 | WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty | September 25, 2018 | December 25, 2018 | Protects performances and phonograms in digital media, benefiting Indian musicians and performers. |
| 12 | Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services | June 7, 2019 | September 7, 2019 | Standardizes trademark classification, aiding Indian businesses in global trademark registration. |
| 13 | Locarno Agreement establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs | June 7, 2019 | September 7, 2019 | Facilitates the classification of industrial designs, promoting Indian industrial creativity abroad. |
| 14 | Vienna Agreement establishing an International Classification of Figurative Elements | June 7, 2019 | September 7, 2019 | Standardizes figurative element classification in trademarks, supporting India’s IP protection globally. |
While India is a part of many United Nations conventions and agreements, still there are a few notable International Treaties and Agreements that it has either not signed or has signed but not ratified.
| UN Conventions India Has Not Signed or Ratified | |||
| SI No. | Name of the Convention | Status of Signature | Status of Ratification |
| 1 | Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages. New York, 10 December 1962 | Not Signed | |
| 2 | Convention on the International Right of Correction. New York, 31 March 1953 | Not Signed | |
| 3 | International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries. New York, 4 December 1989 | Not Signed | |
| 4 | Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. New York, 9 December 1994 | Not Signed | |
| 5 | Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. New York, 8 December 2005 | Not Signed | |
| 6 | Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Rome, 17 July 1998 | Not Signed | |
| 7 | Amendment to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Kampala, 10 June 2010 | Not Signed | |
| 8 | Amendments on the crime of aggression to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Kampala, 11 June 2010 | Not Signed | |
| 9 | Amendment to article 124 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Hague, 26 November 2015 | Not Signed | |
| 10 | Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court. New York, 9 September 2002 | Not Signed | |
| 11 | International Agreement on Olive Oil, 1956. Geneva, 17 October 1955, and New York, 15 November 1955 | Not Signed | |
| 12 | Protocol amending the International Agreement on Olive Oil, 1956. Geneva, 31 March 1958 and 3 April 1958 | Not Signed | |
| 13 | Convention on the Nationality of Married Women. New York, 20 February 1957 | Signed on 15 May 1957 | Not Ratified |
| 14 | United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property. New York, 2 December 2004 | Signed on 12 January 2007 | Not Ratified |
| 15 | Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. New York, 10 December 1984 | Signed on 14 October 1997 | Not Ratified |
| 16 | International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. New York, 20 December 2006 | Signed on 6 February 2007 | Not Ratified |
| 17 | Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961. New York, 8 August 1975 | Signed on 14 December 1978 | Not Ratified |
| 18 | International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations. Rome, 26 October 1961 | Signed on 26 October 1961 | Not Ratified |
| 19 | Agreement governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. New York, 5 December 1979 | Signed on 18 January 1982 | Not Ratified |
| 20 | Minamata Convention on Mercury. Kumamoto, 10 October 2013 | Signed on 30 September 2014 | Not Ratified |
Source: Ministry of External Affairs
To get more information on the List of United Nations Conventions Protocols & Agreements India has not Signed, or Signed but not Ratified, click on the link below:
| Click Here |
International Treaties and Agreements are required for promoting global cooperation and solving transnational issues. From disarmament and human rights to environmental protection and trade, treaties provide the legal foundation for a stable and peaceful world. India’s participation in various treaties highlights its commitment to international cooperation and development. As global challenges evolve, the role of these treaties will continue to be pivotal in shaping a just, prosperous, and sustainable world.
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