ABSTRACT
The expression ‘treaty’ is used as a generic term to cover a multitude of international agreements and contractual engagements between states. These international agreements are called by various names including treaties, conventions, pacts, declarations, charters, concordats, protocols and covenants. They may be quasi-legislative or purely contractual. They may lay down rules binding upon states concerning new areas into which international law is expanding, or they may codify, clarify and supplement the already existing customary international law on a particular matter.
