Konvenció

Konvenció is a term used in several languages, notably Hungarian and Slovak, to denote a convention or an agreed set of norms. Broadly, it can refer to any formal agreement or customary rule that governs behavior within a group; in international contexts, it often denotes a treaty or instrument binding upon its parties. In international law, a konvenció is a formal treaty between states or international organizations. It typically creates rights and obligations and comes into force on ratification or accession, with provisions for reservations, amendment, and withdrawal.

Multilateral konvenció involve many states; bilateral ones involve two. They may establish legal frameworks for cooperation on issues such as trade, environment, human rights, or armed conflict. Examples commonly cited in multilingual contexts include international humanitarian conventions and environmental agreements, such as the Geneva Conventions and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The concept also covers conventions arising from customary international law or long-standing practices recognized as binding.

Besides formal treaties, konvenció can describe unwritten social norms or conventions of behavior within a community, profession, or cultural context. In linguistics and philosophy, conventions refer to the agreed-upon rules that enable effective communication and shared understanding.

Etymology traces the term to Latin conventio, via French convention; cognate terms exist in many European languages with related meanings. The precise legal weight and procedures associated with a konvenció depend on the instrument's text and the domestic laws of the parties involved.