Treaties and United Nations Materials

A treaty cites its title in italics, the date it opened for signature, the treaty series reference, and the date it entered into force in round brackets, then an article pinpoint. Chapter 8 governs treaties. Long treaty names almost always earn a short title.

The United Nations Treaty Series, abbreviated UNTS, is the usual series. A treaty not yet in force notes that instead of an entry date.

Instruments between states that are not treaties, like memoranda of understanding, follow rule 8.6. The shape resembles a treaty citation with a signature date in place of the treaty series machinery.

The Charter of the United Nations is so well known that rule 9.1 lets you cite it by name alone with an article pinpoint. No date, no series.

Resolutions, reports and other UN documents cite the italic title, the resolution number, and the document symbol with its date, then a paragraph pinpoint. Rule 9.2 applies, and rule 9.5 handles later references. Decisions of treaty bodies follow rule 9.3 and UN yearbooks follow rule 9.4.