Ratifikációt

Ratifikációt refers to the process by which a state formally approves and agrees to be bound by an international treaty. This act signifies that the state has completed its internal legal procedures, such as parliamentary approval or a referendum, making the treaty legally enforceable within its jurisdiction. Ratification is a crucial step in the treaty-making process, distinguishing between a treaty's signing and its entry into force.

Typically, after a treaty has been negotiated and signed by authorized representatives of the states involved, it must be ratified by each signatory state to become legally binding for them. The specific method of ratification varies depending on the constitutional framework of each country. In many democracies, this involves the legislature, such as a parliament or congress, debating and voting on the treaty. If approved, the executive branch then formally communicates the state's consent to be bound, often by depositing an instrument of ratification with a designated depository state or international organization.

Once a sufficient number of states have ratified a treaty, as specified within the treaty itself, it enters into force for those states. This means that they are legally obligated to comply with its provisions. The principle of pacta sunt servanda, meaning "agreements must be kept," underpins the legal obligation arising from ratification. In essence, ratification is the formal affirmation of a state's commitment to uphold the terms of an international agreement.