# treaty

> express agreement between nations under international law

**Wikidata**: [Q131569](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131569)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/treaty

## Summary
A treaty is an express agreement between nations under international law. It is a formal, written international agreement (also described as an international convention, protocol, pact, or accord) that operates as a source and instrument of international law.

## Key Facts
- Definition: Treaty = an express agreement between nations under international law; described in Wikidata as "express agreement between nations under international law."
- Primary classification: subclass of agreement, document (class), rule (Thing), and statute (class).
- Part of: international law; also related to "sources of international law" and to the legal concept of "signature."
- Common alternate labels (aliases): exchange of letters; protocol; international agreement; international treaty; international protocol; international convention; accord; alliance; compact; pact; covenant; convention; tratado internacional; acuerdo; acuerdo internacional; traité international; accord international; traités internationaux; Völkerrechtsvertrag; Völkervertragsrecht; Internationaler Vertrag; Internationales Übereinkommen; Internationales Abkommen; Völkerrechtliches Übereinkommen; Völkerrechtliches Abkommen; 国際条約; 條約; международный акт; международное соглашение; Tratados; Tratados internacionais; Convenção internacional; Acordo internacional; معاهده; أتفاقية; المعاهدة; تسوية إقليمية; تسوية اقليمية; تسويه إقليميه; 약조.
- Common English name / title on Wikipedia: "Treaty" (wikipedia_title: Treaty).
- Sitelink count across Wikimedia projects: 88.
- Wikimedia Commons category: Treaties.
- Representative images provided in sources: Original Geneva Conventions image; Carter & Brezhnev signing SALT II; Unie van Utrecht image (links given in structured properties).
- Languages with Wikipedia pages for the concept: af, ar, ast, az, azb, bg, bn, br, ca, chr, cs, cy, da, de, el, en, eo, es, et, eu, fa, fi, fo, fr, fy, ga, gl, he, hi, hr, ht, hu, hy, id, is, it, ja, jv, ka, kaa, kbp, kk, ko, ku, la, li, lt, lv, mad, mk, ms, nl, nn, no, oc, pa, pl, pt, ro, ru, sh, simple, sk, sl, sq, sr, su, sv, th, tr, uk, ur, uz, vi, wa, wuu, yi, zh, zh_min_nan, zh_yue.
- Identifiers and authoritative metadata:
  - gnd_id: 4063696-3.
  - psh_id: 9171.
  - yso_id: 322; alternative yso value 7956 with qualifiers (valtiosopimukset, fördrag, treaties).
  - eurovoc_id: 3461.
  - freebase_id: /m/07h93.
  - exact_match (ontology): https://citationstyles.org/ontology/type/treaty.
  - bncf_thesaurus_id: 9053.
  - unbis_thesaurus_id: 1006683.
  - pactols_thesaurus_id: pcrtSRpmufgSZR.
  - store_id_google_play: traktat.
  - dewey_decimal_classification: 341.37.
  - library_of_congress_authority_id: sh85137207.
  - library_of_congress_classification: KZ1298-KZ1304.
  - properties_for_this_type: , , , , .
  - jstor_topic_id (archived): treaties, international-agreements.
- Described by major reference sources: Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947); Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary; entries cross-referenced with  and other described_by_source records.
- Spoken audio example: Portuguese audio file at Wikimedia Commons (Pt-Tratado.ogg; qualifier: Portuguese; 2010).
- Related document types and legal forms (aliases/related genre/form terms): conventions, protocols, accords (law), final acts (treaties), pacts (law), protocols (law), agreements, international agreements, concords (law), treaties (Treaties).
- Dewey / classification / thesauri cross-links: asc_leiden_thesaurus_id 294917454; cultureel_woordenboek_id wet-en-recht/verdrag; le_monde_diplomatique_subject_id sujet/accordinternational; australian_thesaurus_of_education_descriptors_id 7234; norwegian_thesaurus_on_genre_and_form_id 312.
- Noted related topical classifications or instruments: Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (and related Vienna Conventions), various Geneva Conventions and international human rights instruments, trade agreements, arms control treaties, environmental treaties, protocols and protocols-amendments listed in the related material.
- Notable: The dataset includes many concrete treaty examples (see Body - Notable related treaties and examples).

## FAQs
Q: What is the legal nature of a treaty?
A: A treaty is a formal written international agreement that functions as an instrument and source of international law. It is legally binding on the parties that consent to it according to international law rules.

Q: What kinds or categories of treaties exist?
A: Treaties are categorized by scope and parties: bilateral (between two states), multilateral (three or more states), commercial treaties, peace treaties, armistices, defense pacts, tax treaties, trade agreements, environmental conventions, investment treaties, mutual legal assistance treaties, and many others. Protocols and amendments (protocols, optional protocols) are common sub-forms.

Q: How are treaties documented, classified and found in libraries and thesauri?
A: Treaties are treated as documents and statutes and are classified in systems like Dewey (341.37), Library of Congress (KZ1298–KZ1304), EuroVoc (3461), and appear in national and international thesauri (GND, PSH, YSO, BNFC, UNBIS, Pactols). They are assigned persistent identifiers such as gnd_id and freebase_id.

Q: Which languages and international resources cover the concept of treaty?
A: The concept of treaty is covered in many language Wikipedias (list includes major world languages and many regional languages), in international ontologies (citationstyles.org), and in encyclopedias (Great Soviet Encyclopedia, Brockhaus and Efron). Commons hosts images and audio files related to treaties.

Q: Are treaties only between sovereign states?
A: The canonical description is an agreement between nations (states) under international law. Related documents in the dataset include treaties involving states, international organizations, and special forms (e.g., protectorates, agreements with indigenous peoples), indicating a broad range of treaty parties in practice.

Q: Where can I find examples or texts of real treaties?
A: Many named treaties and conventions are documented in the related-items list (see Body). Examples include Geneva Conventions, Vienna Conventions, the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Treaty of Westphalia era instruments, modern instruments like the Paris Agreements, Montreal Protocol, WTO agreements, and hundreds more listed by name.

## Why It Matters
Treaties are the backbone of rules that govern relations between states and other international entities. They create legally binding obligations that regulate peace and war (e.g., peace treaties, armistices, Geneva Conventions), trade (e.g., free trade agreements, WTO agreements), human rights (e.g., international human rights instruments), environmental protection (e.g., Montreal Protocol, Stockholm Convention), arms control (e.g., SALT, START, Non-Proliferation Treaty), territorial boundaries, maritime law, and practically every area where states must cooperate or resolve conflict. By reducing uncertainty and codifying commitments, treaties enable predictable diplomacy, reciprocal obligations, institutional creation (e.g., international tribunals, commissions), economic integration, dispute settlement mechanisms, and long-term cooperation. The cumulative network of treaties constitutes a significant portion of the corpus of international law and shapes global governance, economic order, environmental stewardship, and security architectures.

## Notable For
- Being the formal, express means by which nations create binding international obligations and regulate interstate relations.
- Serving simultaneously as a document, a statute (in domestic / international contexts), and a rule—thus bridging diplomacy, law, and administration.
- Existing in many sub-forms: bilateral treaties, multilateral treaties, conventions, protocols, optional protocols, accords, pacts, and secret treaties.
- Widespread documented presence and cross-references in major library classifications, thesauri, and authority files (GND, Dewey 341.37, LC classification, EuroVoc, UNBIS).
- Encompassing extremely diverse subject matter: from territorial cessions (e.g., Alaska Purchase) to human rights instruments (e.g., African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights) to environmental treaties (e.g., Paris Agreements, Montreal Protocol).
- Serving as the foundation for large international regimes and organizations (e.g., UN Charter derivatives, WTO agreements, Antarctic Treaty System).
- Being the subject of canonical treaty law conventions (e.g., Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and other Vienna Conventions).

## Body

### Definition and legal classification
- A treaty is defined in the dataset as an "express agreement between nations under international law."
- It is treated as a formal written instrument and is classified simultaneously as an agreement (contractual relation), a document (preserved information), a rule (prescriptive legal norm), and a statute (formal written instrument creating legal obligations).
- Treaties are explicitly listed under "subclass_of" as agreement, document, rule, and statute.
- The concept is explicitly linked to "sources of international law" and enumerated among the types of instruments that create obligations between sovereigns.

### Forms and types of treaties
- Principal forms mentioned:
  - Bilateral treaty — a treaty between two countries.
  - Multilateral treaty — a treaty between three or more countries.
  - Armistice — formal agreement to stop fighting (short of ending war).
  - Peace treaty — formal agreement to end a state of war.
  - Defense pact / Mutual Defence Treaty — military alliance to defend each other.
  - Tax treaty — agreements to avoid double taxation or clarify tax responsibilities.
  - Commercial treaty — agreements regulating trade.
  - Trade agreement / Free trade agreements (e.g., NAFTA successor instruments).
  - Bilateral investment treaty — terms and conditions for private investment across borders.
  - Mutual legal assistance treaty — to enforce public or criminal laws across jurisdictions.
  - Secret treaty — treaties hidden from the public record.
  - Separate peace — treaty that ends hostilities with a subset of belligerents.
  - Treaty of friendship, treaty of guarantee, treaty of alliance — political and strategic forms.
  - International human rights instruments and environmental treaties.
- Protocols and amendments: Many treaties have protocols (e.g., Protocol II to Geneva Conventions, Protocols amending conventions). Optional protocols are common (e.g., Optional Protocol to CRC).

### Typical subject matter and functions
- Peace and war: peace treaties, armistices, surrender terms, cessation of hostilities.
- Borders and territorial settlement: boundary treaties, territorial cessions, exchanges (e.g., Treaty of Alcañices, Treaty of Tordesillas).
- Trade and economics: trade agreements, customs union treaties, free trade agreements, WTO instruments.
- Human rights and humanitarian law: Geneva Conventions, human rights conventions, conventions against slavery and torture.
- Environmental management: Montreal Protocol, Stockholm and Basel conventions, biodiversity and fisheries conventions.
- Arms control and non-proliferation: Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Non-Proliferation Treaty, START, SALT II, Chemical/Biological Weapons Conventions.
- Institutional creation and governance: treaties that establish organizations or regimes (e.g., Rome Statute establishing ICC, Antarctic Treaty System).
- Intellectual property, transport, maritime, aviation, and specialized technical realms: numerous conventions and protocols (Hague conventions, Berne Convention, maritime conventions).

### Identification, classification, and metadata
- Libraries and classification systems index "treaty" under Dewey Decimal 341.37 and Library of Congress classes KZ1298–KZ1304.
- Controlled vocabularies and thesauri referencing treaty include EuroVoc (3461), GND (gnd_id 4063696-3), PSH (psh_id 9171), YSO (322, 7956), UNBIS (1006683), BNFC, Pactols, and many more.
- Properties for treaty-type records include , , , ,  (as listed in properties_for_this_type).
- Identifiers for cross-referencing: freebase /m/07h93; exact ontology match at citationstyles.org; store_id_google_play "traktat."

### Documentation and media
- Representative media files cited in the structured properties include images of the Geneva Conventions, SALT II signing, and Unie van Utrecht.
- Spoken audio examples exist (Portuguese Pt-Tratado.ogg).
- The concept is supported by entries and descriptions in encyclopedias such as Great Soviet Encyclopedia and Brockhaus & Efron.

### Exemplars and notable related treaties (selected from the provided list)
The source material provides a large, non-exhaustive list of named treaties and related agreements across history and subject areas. The dataset includes (each below is a named treaty or convention present in the related-items list):

- Geneva Conventions; Original Geneva Conventions (images referenced).
- Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties Between States and International Organizations or Between International Organizations — 1986 UN treaty.
- Montreal Protocol (ozone protection instrument).
- Paris Agreements (post-London/Paris 1954).
- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
- Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998).
- Schengen Agreement.
- Treaty of Tordesillas.
- Antarctic Treaty System (1959 inception).
- Bretton Woods system (1944 economic agreement).
- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, 1947).
- Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907.
- Geneva Conventions and Protocols (multiple entries including Second, Third, Fourth Geneva Conventions).
- Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963).
- SALT II (SALT II imagery referenced).
- START I, START II, New START (arms control treaties).
- Maastricht, Lisbon, Treaties of Rome (European integration instruments).
- NAFTA successor agreements, EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (2020).
- Multilateral environmental instruments: Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; Minamata Convention; Convention on Biological Diversity—represented via named conventions and protocols.
- Human rights and humanitarian law instruments: Universal Copyright Convention; African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; American Convention on Human Rights; UN conventions against discrimination, torture, and slavery.
- Trade, maritime, and transport: Warsaw Convention; Hague-Visby Rules; International Conventions on Carriage of Goods regimes; various maritime pollution and shipping conventions.
- Numerous historical peace and alliance treaties: Treaty of Utrecht, Treaty of Westphalia-era instruments, Treaty of Paris (multiple historical dates), Treaty of Versailles (different historical instances), Treaty of Trianon/Versailles-related instruments.
- Territorial and boundary treaties, protectorate arrangements, and purchases: Alaska Purchase; Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty; Timor Sea Treaties.
- Regional treaties and pacts: ASEAN Charter and related agreements; African Union conventions; Inter-American conventions.
- Specialized legal conventions and multilateral instruments: Hague Conference conventions, WIPO treaties, UN treaties on narcotics and terrorism, ICCPR/ICESCR family instruments, and many ILO conventions and protocols listed as protocol examples.
- Dozens/hundreds of named bilateral and multilateral treaties spanning centuries (e.g., Treaty of Nymphaeum, Treaty of Verdun, Treaty of Münster, Treaties of Rome, Treaty of Constantinople in various years, Treaty of Paris in many editions, and others explicitly enumerated).

(Note: the source material enumerates many individually named treaties and conventions; the list above reproduces representative entries and signals the broad sweep of subject matter and historical periods found in the provided data. The dataset contains numerous additional named treaties and agreements—see the source's related-items list for the full enumerated set.)

### Examples of treaty practice and legal consequences (from related content)
- Treaties can create rights and obligations enforceable under international law and sometimes implemented into domestic law by ratification.
- They may be amended by protocols or optional protocols (e.g., Protocol II, Optional Protocols).
- Treaties can be secret or public; secret additional protocols are a documented historical practice (e.g., Secret Additional Protocol to Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact).
- Treaties can create international institutions or regimes (e.g., Antarctic Treaty System, Bretton Woods institutions, Rome Statute/ICC).
- Treaty practice includes signature, ratification, accession, reservations, amendments, denunciations, and termination as legal steps.

### Cross-cutting institutional and thematic networks
- Treaties are central to international organizations (UN, WTO, WIPO, ILO) and are used to create regional regimes (EU treaties, African regional instruments, Inter-American instruments).
- They underpin cooperative governance in areas such as environmental protection (Montreal Protocol), human rights (regional human rights instruments), disarmament and arms control (NPT, START), trade (GATT/WTO, FTAs), maritime and aviation safety, and many technical regulatory fields.

### Metadata provenance and scholarly references
- The structured properties show provenance: e.g., yso_id references include qualifiers and dates; described_by_source cites encyclopedias. These metadata elements indicate accepted cataloging in diverse national and international knowledge systems.
- The concept "treaty" is covered in domain-specific ontologies and citation style ontologies (exact_match: citationstyles.org).

### Practical retrieval and research tips (implied by dataset)
- Use library classification numbers (Dewey 341.37, LC KZ1298–KZ1304) or authority identifiers (gnd_id, freebase_id) to locate canonical bibliographic entries.
- Check thesauri (EuroVoc, YSO) and international registries for subject indexing of treaties.
- Use the many language Wikipedia entries for multilingual summaries and cross-links to national treaty texts.

### Awards and recognition (dataset note)
- The related / awards section includes one named person: Maurice Fingercwajg (French resistance member), which appears under "Awards / Recognition" in the provided raw data. This indicates that some related items in the dataset carry biographical or award metadata cross-links.

### Coverage and scope of related entries
- The source supplies extremely broad coverage: ancient treaties (e.g., Treaties between Rome and Carthage), medieval pacts, early modern treaties, colonial-era treaties (e.g., unequal treaties), 19th- and 20th-century international law instruments, and contemporary multilateral conventions. It includes both subject-matter groupings (e.g., environmental treaties, trade treaties) and dozens/hundreds of individually named treaties spanning all regions of the world.

### Practical implications
- For policymakers and lawyers: treaties are primary legal tools for creating binding interstate commitments.
- For librarians and information professionals: treaties require specialized classification, authority control, and cross-referencing across multilingual collections.
- For historians and political scientists: treaties are primary source evidence for diplomacy, state formation, territorial change, alliance systems, and international order.

(End of Body)

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=9053)
3. Nuovo soggettario
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
6. BabelNet
7. National Library of Israel
8. KBpedia
9. GF WordNet
10. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)