What is the difference between treaties and conventions?

Treaties and conventions are two different types of international agreements that have very different purposes and legal implications. Treaties are formal written agreements between two or more countries that create binding obligations under international law. Treaties can be bilateral (between two countries) or multilateral (between three or more countries). Conventions, on the other hand, are international agreements that are usually multilateral (involving many countries) and create non-binding obligations. Conventions seek to establish common standards of behavior among the countries that are signatories to the agreement. Unlike treaties, conventions do not create legal obligations for signatories to comply with under international law. Signatories are expected to use the principles of the convention as a guide as they make their own laws and regulations. For example, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a convention that sets out the rights of children, but it has no legal force and is not enforceable. It is up to each country to adopt and implement the recommendations of the convention into their domestic law. Treaties and conventions both have an important role in international law, but they are different in purpose and scope. Treaties are legally binding agreements that create obligations for countries that sign them, while conventions seek to promote and protect shared values and principles without expecting countries to comply with legal obligations.

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What is the difference between treaties and conventions?

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