Legal Definitions - Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) is a set of rules that countries follow when they make agreements with each other. It was created in 1969 and went into effect in 1980. The VCLT only applies to agreements made between countries, not between individuals or companies.

For example, if two countries sign a treaty to protect the environment, they must follow the rules set out in the VCLT. This means they must both agree to the terms of the treaty, and they must follow those terms once the treaty is in effect.

The VCLT also applies to treaties made by international organizations, like the United Nations. For example, if the UN creates a treaty to promote human rights, all member countries must follow the rules set out in the treaty.