International Studies: United Nations

This publication has been prepared by the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs as a guide to the Secretary-General's practice as a depositary of multilateral treaties and the Secretariat's practice in relation to the registration and publication functions. It is intended as a contribution to the United Nations efforts to assist States in becoming party to the international treaty framework. It is written in simple language and, with the aid of diagrams and step-by-step instructions, touches upon many aspects of treaty law and practice. This Handbook is designed for use by States, international organizations and other entities. In particular, it is intended to assist States with scarce resources and limited technical proficiency in treaty law and practice to participate fully in the multilateral treaty framework. This Handbook is provided for information only and does not constitute formal legal or other professional advice. Readers may wish to seek such advice before taking action in relation to matters described in this Handbook or otherwise relying on the information contained herein. The United Nations assumes no liability for actions undertaken in reliance on the information contained in this Handbook.