Some unfinished new thoughts on unilateral acts of states as a source of international law

Abstract

The unilateral acts of states in the form of a declaration concerning a legal or factual situation may create legal obligations for the state making the declaration when made with the intent to be bound. In such circumstances the intention confers on the declaration the character of a legal undertaking by the state to act in accordance with the undertaking. In this article the author revisits the hitherto restrictive definitions of the unilateral act as a source of international law in view of changed practices brought about by the progressive development and codification of the law of treaties.


(J. for Juridical Science: 2001 26 (3): 1-11)