The Continuing Education Unit at the College of Law – University of Baghdad organized a workshop on Monday, April 28, 2025, titled “The Principle of the Relative Effect of Treaties.”
The workshop was delivered by Professor Dr. Hadi Naeem Khalaf and held in the college’s Model Courtroom.
The aim of the workshop was to clarify the concept of the principle of the relative effect of treaties, to examine whether any exceptions apply to it, and to explore its relationship with the sources of international law. During the workshop, the speaker addressed three main topics:
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The principle of the relative effect of treaties.
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Possible exceptions to the principle.
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The relationship between the principle and the sources of international law.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the recommendations emphasized that the principle of the relative effect of treaties is considered an absolute one, with no exceptions. As a result, international treaties do not create rights or obligations for non-party states without their consent. This highlights customary international law as the most significant and effective source for creating binding international legal norms applicable to all.
