ratifiointikirjat

Ratifiointikirjat, known in English as instruments of ratification, are formal documents used in international law to signify a state's consent to be bound by a treaty. Once a treaty has been negotiated and signed by authorized representatives of the states involved, it typically requires a further step to become legally binding on those states. This step is ratification.

The process of ratification varies by country and is usually governed by a state's domestic constitutional law. It often involves approval by the legislative branch, such as a parliament or congress, and may also require the signature of the head of state. The ratifiointikirja is the official document that records this formal consent.

After a state has completed its internal ratification procedures, it prepares the ratifiointikirja. This document is then typically deposited with a designated depository, which is often the government of one of the treaty-signing states or an international organization like the United Nations. The deposit of these instruments signals to other parties that the state has formally undertaken the treaty obligations.

The exchange or deposit of ratifiointikirjat is crucial for bringing a treaty into force. Many treaties specify that they will enter into force after a certain number of states have deposited their instruments of ratification. This ensures that the treaty becomes legally effective for a sufficient number of parties to be meaningful. In essence, the ratifiointikirja is the tangible proof of a state's commitment to uphold the terms of an international agreement.