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UNCTAD legal instruments (1964-2025)

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has produced a significant number of legal instruments since its creation in 1964.

Legal instruments can be classified as binding or non-binding.

UNCTAD's binding legal instruments (treaties and conventions)

An international convention or treaty is an agreement between countries that is legally binding to the contracting parties. When a State ratifies a convention, that State accepts it as binding.

When a country signs a convention, it signals its intention to ratify it in the future. Signing is not legally binding, but it shows that the country supports the convention's goals and principles. A monitoring body is frequently established to evaluate State parties' progress in implementing the convention by considering reports routinely supplied by States because contracting parties are legally required to adhere to the provisions of the convention.

UNCTAD's non-binding instruments

Non-binding international legal instruments are classified according to their level of authority granted by member States. Thus, even if considered soft law instruments, the first category represents those that have been agreed by member States as non-binding and have the highest authority among the soft law instruments. Other non-binding legal instruments are presented from an authoritative point of view and usually produced by the UNCTAD secretariat.

Principles present the fundamental objectives, values, criteria and interpretation sources and lines of action. They are generally acknowledged as the basic standards that are used for the understanding, interpretation and application of the law in various contexts.

Guidelines tend to present advisory opinions on the best implementation and application practices to carry out a specific policy objective.

Model laws aim to harmonize implementing legal frameworks so that member States can translate their legal obligations under international treaties within their national legislation.

Codes of conduct provide a collection of guiding rules to demonstrate compliance on a voluntary basis within a specific legal framework or sector/industry.

Frameworks refer to a technical roadmap used to address or implement a specific political objective.

Finally, drafts of non-binding instruments are listed. These drafts demonstrate the political willingness of member States to engage in the regulation of a specific topic without showing a higher level of commitment due to a lack of consensus by member States.

Non-binding legal instruments adopted by member States (in chronological order)

Other non-binding legal instruments (in chronological order)

Principles

 

Guidelines/Guidance

Frameworks

Drafts of non-binding of legal instruments