International law handbook

Draft Declaration on rights and duties of States
105
article 16
The present Convention shall be open for the adherence and accession of the States which 
are not signatories. The corresponding instruments shall be deposited in the archives of the Pan- 
American Union which shall communicate them to the other High Contracting Parties. 
In witness whereof, the following Plenipotentiaries have signed this Convention in Spanish, 
English, Portuguese and French and hereunto affix their respective seals in the city of Montevideo, 
Republic of Uruguay, this 26th day of December, 1933.
8. Draft DeClaratIon on rIGHtS anD DutIeS of StateS
General assembly resolution 375 (IV) of 6 December 1949, annex
Whereas
the States of the world form a community governed by international law,
Whereas
the progressive development of international law requires effective organization of 
the community of States,
Whereas
a great majority of the States of the world have accordingly established a new inter-
national order under the Charter of the United Nations, and most of the other States of the world 
have declared their desire to live within this order,
Whereas
a primary purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and 
security, and the reign of law and justice is essential to the realization of this purpose, and
Whereas
it is therefore desirable to formulate certain basic rights and duties of States in the 
light of new developments of international law and in harmony with the Charter of the United 
Nations,
The General Assembly
of the United Nations adopts and proclaims this Declaration on Rights 
and Duties of States:
article 1
Every State has the right to independence and hence to exercise freely, without dictation by any 
other State, all its legal powers, including the choice of its own form of government.
article 2
Every State has the right to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and over all persons and 
things therein, subject to the immunities recognized by international law.
article 3
Every State has the duty to refrain from intervention in the internal or external affairs of any 
other State.
article 4
Every State has the duty to refrain from fomenting civil strife in the territory of another State, 
and to prevent the organization within its territory of activities calculated to foment such civil strife.
article 5
Every State has the right to equality in law with every other State.

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106
 
III. Subjects of international law
article 6
Every State has the duty to treat all persons under its jurisdiction with respect for human rights 
and fundamental freedoms, without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.
article 7
Every State has the duty to ensure that conditions prevailing in its territory do not menace 
international peace and order.
article 8
Every State has the duty to settle its disputes with other States by peaceful means in such a 
manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
article 9
Every State has the duty to refrain from resorting to war as an instrument of national policy, 
and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independ-
ence of another State, or in any other manner inconsistent with international law and order.
article 10
Every State has the duty to refrain from giving assistance to any State which is acting in viola-
tion of article 9, or against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.
article 11
Every State has the duty to refrain from recognizing any territorial acquisition by another State 
acting in violation of article 9.
article 12
Every State has the right of individual or collective self-defence against armed attack.
article 13
Every State has the duty to carry out in good faith its obligations arising from treaties and 
other sources of international law, and it may not invoke provisions in its constitution or its laws as 
an excuse for failure to perform this duty.
article 14
Every State has the duty to conduct its relations with other States in accordance with inter-
national law and with the principle that the sovereignty of each State is subject to the supremacy of 
international law.

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Succession: property, archives and debts
107
9. VIenna ConVentIon on SuCCeSSIon of StateS In reSpeCt of
State property, arCHIVeS anD DebtS
Done at Vienna on 8 april 1983
not yet in force
united nations, Doc. a/Conf.117/14
The States Parties to the present Convention
,
Considering
the profound transformation of the international community brought about by 
the decolonization process,
Considering also
that other factors may lead to cases of succession of States in the future,
Convinced,
in these circumstances, of the need for the codification and progressive 
development of the rules relating to succession of States in respect of State property, archives and 
debts as a means for ensuring greater juridical security in international relations,
Noting 
that the principles of free consent, good faith and 
pacta sunt servanda
are universally 
recognized,
Emphasizing 
the importance of the codification and progressive development of international 
law which is of interest to the international community as a whole and of special importance for the 
strengthening of peace and international cooperation,
Believing 
that questions relating to succession of States in respect of State property, archives 
and debts are of special importance to all States,
Having in mind 
the principles of international law embodied in the Charter of the United 
Nations, such as the principles of the equal rights and self-determination of peoples, of the sover-
eign equality and independence of all States, of non-interference in the domestic affairs of States, of 
the prohibition of the threat or use of force, and of universal respect for, and observance of, human 
rights and fundamental freedoms for all,
Recalling 
that respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of any State is 
required by the Charter of the United Nations,
Bearing in mind
the provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 and 
the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties of 1978,
Affirming 
that matters not regulated by the present Convention continue to be governed by the 
rules and principles of general international law,
Have agreed
as follows: