What is the Article 31 General Rule of Interpretation?

Asked by: Kira Trantow DVM  |  Last update: June 11, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (49 votes)

Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) is the General Rule of Interpretation, stating a treaty must be interpreted in good faith, giving terms their ordinary meaning within their context, and considering the treaty's object and purpose; this involves a holistic approach looking at the text, preamble, annexes, and related agreements, not just literal definitions, to find the parties' common understanding.

What is Article 31 of the Vienna Convention?

Article 31 (1) of the VCLT famously says that '[a] treaty shall be interpreted in good faith in accordance with the ordinary meaning to be given to the terms of the treaty (p.

What is Article 31 of the treaty of Versailles?

It will be the duty of the Governing Commission to provide in all cases for the protection of persons and property in the Saar Basin. 31. The territory of the Saar Basin as defined by Article 48 of the present Treaty shall be subjected to the French customs regime.

What is Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations?

No measures of execution may be taken in respect of a diplomatic agent except in the cases coming under sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 of this article, and provided that the measures concerned can be taken without infringing the inviolability of his person or of his residence.

What is Article 31 of the Geneva Convention?

Article 31 - Prohibition of coercion

No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised against protected persons, in particular to obtain information from them or from third parties.

Treaty Law Convention, Article 31, General rule of interpretation

43 related questions found

What is the Article 31 principle?

Article 31 principle – immunity from penalty

The Refugee Convention (a piece of international law that the UK signed) says that asylum seekers should not be punished if they have a good reason for using false passports.

What are the key points of article 31?

Article 31(a) – Compulsory Self-Incrimination Prohibited: This section prohibits forcing individuals to incriminate themselves. Military authorities cannot compel a service member to answer questions. They also cannot be forced to provide information that might be used against them in a criminal proceeding.

What is Article 31 of the UN Convention?

Article 31

States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

Is India a signatory to ICESCR?

India is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has ratified ICESCR and ICCPR.

Can a country reject an ambassador?

Under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a receiving state may "at any time and without having to explain its decision" declare any member of a diplomatic staff persona non grata. A person so declared is considered unacceptable and is usually recalled to their home nation.

What is Article 31 of the Vccr?

(d) Inviolability of Consular Premises (Arts 31–33 VCCR) 32 Art. 31 VCCR regulates the inviolability of the consular premises. The inviolability addresses the organs of the receiving State and prohibits them from entering consular offices without the consent of the sending State.

Why did Germans hate Article 231?

Perhaps the most humiliating portion of the treaty for defeated Germany was Article 231, commonly known as the "War Guilt Clause." This clause forced the German nation to accept complete responsibility for starting World War I. As such, Germany was to be held liable for all material damages.

How many articles are in the UN Charter?

The Charter of the United Nations is the treaty that established the United Nations, and includes the purposes and principles, membership, and organs of the United Nations, among other things. The Charter has 19 chapters and 111 articles in which Articles 7, 8, 97, 98, 100, 101 and 105 relate to human resources.

What is the meaning of article 31?

Article 31(1) of the Constitution had made it clear that private property could not be taken by the Government through an executive order but only through the authority of law.

What is the full text of article 31?

31. (a) The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

What is Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to play?

Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) creates a specific right for all children to have rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to their age and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

What are key principles of ICESCR?

The Preamble of the ICESCR Covenant asserts that the economic, social and cultural rights enumerated within it derive from the "inherent dignity of the human person" and that "the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his ...

Is India a member of NPT and CTBT?

The 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has yet to enter into force because of the unwillingness of a number of states—including India—to ratify it. Although India initially participated in negotiating the CTBT, it subsequently walked out of the negotiations and has never signed the treaty.

What are the three generations of rights?

The so-called “Three Generations Theory of Human Rights”—known for dividing human rights into three separate generations based on (1) civil and political rights; (2) economic, social and cultural rights; and (3) collective or solidarity rights—recently turned 40.

What is the purpose of article 31?

Generally speaking though, it is aimed at preventing superior officers or superior enlisted soldiers from asking a question of a subordinate, and that subordinate answering them feeling like they are obligated to answer because of their military service.

What is Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the law of Treaties?

Article 31

(a) any agreement relating to the treaty which was made between all the parties in connection with the conclusion of the treaty; (b) any instrument which was made by one or more parties in connection with the conclusion of the treaty and accepted by the other parties as an instrument related to the treaty.

Does article 31 apply to everyone?

It's important to note that the requirements of Article 31, UCMJ, only apply to those “subject to the code” (referring to the Uniform Code of Military Justice). ” This includes active duty service members as well as any “knowing agent of any such person or of a military unit.”

What is the Article 31 procedure?

An Article 31 pharmacovigilance referral procedure should be initiated where the interests of the Union are involved and as a result of the evaluation of data relating to pharmacovigilance activities of an authorised medicinal product(s), and when none of the criteria listed in Article 107i1of Directive 2001/83/EC are ...

What are the article 31 rights?

I advise you that under the provisions of Article 31, UCMJ, you have the right to remain silent, that is, say nothing at all. Any statement you make, oral or written, may be used as evidence against you in a trial by court-martial or in other judicial or administrative proceedings.

Who can read article 31 rights?

The bottom line is that that if members of your command are subject to the Uniform Code of Military justice and are asking questions that could lead to an incriminating response, they are required to read the service member his or her Article 31(b) rights.