Constitution of the World Health Organization

Signed at New York on 22 July 1946

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 7 April 1948, in accordance with article 80.

REGISTRATION: 7 April 1948, No. 221.

TEXT: United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 14, p. 185 (with regard to the text of subsequent amendments, see further under each series of amendments).

STATUS: Signatories: 60. Parties: 191.

Note: The Constitution was drawn up by the International Health Conference, which had been convened pursuant to resolution l (I)1 of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, adopted on 15 February 1946. The Conference was held at New York from 19 June to 22 July 1946. In addition to the Constitution, the Conference drew up the Final Act, the Arrangements for the Establishment of an Interim Commission of the World Health Organization and the Protocol concerning the Office international d'hygiène publique, for the text of which, see United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 9, p. 3.

Participant

Signature

Definitive signature (s), acceptance

Afghanistan 19 Apr 1948

Albania 22 Jul 1946 26 May 1947

Algeria 8 Nov 1962

Andorra 15 Jan 1997

Angola 15 May 1976

Antigua and Barbuda 12 Mar 1984

Argentina 22 Jul 1946 22 Oct 1948

Armenia 4 May 1992

Australia 22 Jul 1946 2 Feb 1948

Austria 22 Jul 1946 30 Jun 1947

Azerbaijan 2 Oct 1992

Bahamas 1 Apr 1974

Bahrain 2 Nov 1971

Bangladesh 19 May 1972

Barbados 25 Apr 1967

Belarus 22 Jul 1946 7 Apr 1948

Belgium 22 Jul 1946 25 Jun 1948

Belize 23 Aug 1990

Benin 20 Sep 1960

Bhutan 8 Mar 1982

Bolivia 22 Jul 1946 23 Dec 1949

Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 Sep 1992

Botswana 26 Feb 1975

Brazil 22 Jul 1946 2 Jun 1948

Brunei Darussalam 25 Mar 1985

Bulgaria 22 Jul 1946 9 Jun 1948

Burkina Faso 4 Oct 1960

Burundi 22 Oct 1962

Cambodia 17 May 1950

Cameroon 6 May 1960

Canada 22 Jul 1946 29 Aug 1946

Cape Verde 5 Jan 1976

Central African Republic 20 Sep 1960

Chad 1 Jan 1961

Chile 22 Jul 1946 15 Oct 1948

China2 22 Jul 1946 s

Colombia 22 Jul 1946 14 May 1959

Comoros 9 Dec 1975

Congo 26 Oct 1960

Cook Islands 9 May 1984

Costa Rica 22 Jul 1946 17 Mar 1949

Côte d'Ivoire 28 Oct 1960

Croatia 11 Jun 1992

Cuba 22 Jul 1946 9 May 1950

Cyprus 16 Jan 1961

Czech Republic3 22 Jan 1993

Democratic People's
Republic of Korea 19 May 1973

Democratic Republic
of the Congo 24 Feb 1961

Denmark 22 Jul 1946 19 Apr 1948

Djibouti 10 Mar 1978

Dominica 13 Aug 1981

Dominican Republic 22 Jul 1946 21 Jun 1948

Ecuador 22 Jul 1946 1 Mar 1949

Egypt 22 Jul 1946 16 Dec 1947

El Salvador 22 Jul 1946 22 Jun 1948

Equatorial Guinea 5 May 1980

Eritrea 24 Jul 1993

Ethiopia 22 Jul 1946 11 Apr 1947

Fiji 1 Jan 1972

Finland 22 Jul 1946 7 Oct 1947

France 22 Jul 1946 16 Jun 1948

Gabon 21 Nov 1960

Gambia 26 Apr 1971

Georgia 26 May 1992

Germany4,5 29 May 1951

Ghana 8 Apr 1957

Greece 22 Jul 1946 12 Mar 1948

Grenada 4 Dec 1974

Guatemala 22 Jul 1946 26 Aug 1949

Guinea 19 May 1959

Guinea-Bissau 29 Jul 1974

Guyana 27 Sep 1966

Haiti 22 Jul 1946 12 Aug 1947

Honduras 22 Jul 1946 8 Apr 1949

Hungary 19 Feb 1947 17 Jun 1948

Iceland 17 Jun 1948

India 22 Jul 1946 12 Jan 1948

Indonesia 23 May 1950

Iran (Islamic
Republic of) 22 Jul 1946 23 Nov 1946

Iraq 22 Jul 1946 23 Sep 1947

Ireland 22 Jul 1946 20 Oct 1947

Israel 21 Jun 1949

Italy 22 Jul 1946 11 Apr 1947

Jamaica 21 Mar 1963

Japan 16 May 1951

Jordan 22 Jul 1946 7 Apr 1947

Kazakhstan 19 Aug 1992

Kenya 27 Jan 1964

Kiribati 26 Jul 1984

Kuwait 9 May 1960

Kyrgyzstan 29 Apr 1992

Lao People's
Democratic
Republic 17 May 1950

Latvia 4 Dec 1991

Lebanon 22 Jul 1946 19 Jan 1949

Lesotho 7 Jul 1967

Liberia 22 Jul 1946 14 Mar 1947

Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya 16 May 1952

Lithuania 25 Nov 1991

Luxembourg 22 Jul 1946 3 Jun 1949

Madagascar 16 Jan 1961

Malawi 9 Apr 1965

Malaysia 24 Apr 1958

Maldives 5 Nov 1965

Mali 17 Oct 1960

Malta 1 Feb 1965

Marshall Islands 5 Jun 1991

Mauritania 7 Mar 1961

Mauritius 9 Dec 1968

Mexico 22 Jul 1946 7 Apr 1948

Micronesia (Federated
States of) 14 Aug 1991

Monaco 8 Jul 1948

Mongolia 18 Apr 1962

Morocco 14 May 1956

Mozambique 11 Sep 1975

Myanmar 1 Jul 1948

Namibia 23 Apr 1990

Nauru 9 May 1994

Nepal 2 Sep 1953

Netherlands 22 Jul 1946 25 Apr 1947

New Zealand 22 Jul 1946 10 Dec 1946

Nicaragua 22 Jul 1946 24 Apr 1950

Niger 5 Oct 1960

Nigeria 25 Nov 1960

Niue 5 May 1994

Norway 22 Jul 1946 18 Aug 1947

Oman 28 May 1971

Pakistan 23 Jun 1948

Palau 9 Mar 1995

Panama 22 Jul 1946 20 Feb 1951

Papua New Guinea 29 Apr 1976

Paraguay 22 Jul 1946 4 Jan 1949

Peru 22 Jul 1946 11 Nov 1949

Philippines 22 Jul 1946 9 Jul 1948

Poland 22 Jul 1946 6 May 1948

Portugal 22 Jul 1946 13 Feb 1948

Qatar 11 May 1972

Republic of Korea 17 Aug 1949

Republic of Moldova 4 May 1992

Romania 8 Jun 1948

Russian Federation 22 Jul 1946 24 Mar 1948

Rwanda 7 Nov 1962

Saint Kitts and Nevis 3 Dec 1984

Saint Lucia 11 Nov 1980

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1 Sep 1983

Samoa 16 May 1962

San Marino 12 May 1980

Sao Tome and Principe 23 Mar 1976

Saudi Arabia 2 Jul 1946 26 May 1947

Senegal 31 Oct 1960

Seychelles 11 Sep 1979

Sierra Leone 20 Oct 1961

Singapore 25 Feb 1966

Slovakia3 4 Feb 1993

Slovenia 7 May 1992

Solomon Islands 4 Apr 1983

Somalia 26 Jan 1961

South Africa 22 Jul 1946 7 Aug 1947

Spain 28 May 1951

Sri Lanka 7 Jul 1948

Sudan 14 May 1956

Suriname 25 Mar 1976

Swaziland 16 Apr 1973

Sweden 13 Jan 1947 28 Aug 1947

Switzerland 22 Jul 1946 26 Mar 1947

Syrian Arab Republic 22 Jul 1946 18 Dec 1946

Tajikistan 4 May 1992

Thailand 22 Jul 1946 26 Sep 1947

the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 22 Apr 1993

Togo 13 May 1960

Tonga 14 Aug 1975

Trinidad and Tobago 3 Jan 1963

Tunisia 14 May 1956

Turkey 22 Jul 1946 2 Jan 1948

Turkmenistan 2 Jul 1992

Tuvalu 7 May 1993

Uganda 7 Mar 1963

Ukraine 22 Jul 1946 3 Apr 1948

United Arab Emirates 30 Mar 1972

United Kingdom 22 Jul 1946 s

United Republic of Tanzania6

for Tanganyika 15 Mar 1962

for Zanzibar 29 Feb 1964

United States
of America
7 22 Jul 1946 21 Jun 1948

Uruguay 22 Jul 1946 22 Apr 1949

Uzbekistan 22 May 1992

Vanuatu 7 Mar 1983

Venezuela 22 Jul 1946 7 Jul 1948

Viet Nam8 17 May 1950

Yemen9 20 Nov 1953 s

Yugoslavia 22 Jul 1946 19 Nov 1947

Zambia 2 Feb 1965 s

Zimbabwe 16 May 1980

Amendments to the Constitution of the World Health Organization

Amendments to articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization

Adopted by the Twelfth World Health Assembly by resolution WHA 12.43 of 28 May 1959

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 25 October 1960 for all Members of the World Health Organization, in accordance with article 73 of the Constitution.

REGISTRATION: 25 October 1960, No. 221.

TEXT: United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 377, p. 380.

STATUS: Acceptances: 118.

Participant

Acceptance

Afghanistan 11 Aug 1960

Albania 27 Jul 1960

Algeria 8 Nov 1962

Andorra 15 Jan 1997

Argentina 11 Apr 1962

Armenia 4 May 1992

Australia 12 Aug 1959

Austria 29 Mar 1960

Azerbaijan 2 Oct 1992

Belgium 20 Nov 1959

Belize 23 Aug 1990

Benin 20 Sep 1960

Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 Sep 1992

Brazil 18 Mar 1963

Brunei Darussalam 25 Mar 1985

Bulgaria 11 Feb 1960

Burkina Faso 4 Oct 1960

Burundi 22 Oct 1962

Cambodia 8 Dec 1959

Cameroon 6 May 1960

Canada 25 Feb 1960

Central African Republic 20 Sep 1960

Chad 1 Jan 1961

Chile . 28 Apr 1960

China10

Congo 26 Oct 1960

Cook Islands 9 May 1984

Côte d'Ivoire 28 Oct 1960

Croatia 11 Jun 1992

Cuba 27 Jul 1960

Cyprus 16 Jan 1961

Czech Republic3 22 Jan 1993

Democratic Republic of the Congo 24 Feb 1961

Denmark 15 Jan 1960

Dominican Republic 16 Sep 1960

Ecuador 10 Jun 1960

Egypt . 25 Mar 1960

El Salvador 10 Feb 1960

Eritrea 24 Jul 1993

Ethiopia 3 May 1960

Finland 4 May 1960

France 10 Mar 1961

Gabon 21 Nov 1960

Georgia 26 May 1992

Ghana 16 Sep 1960

Greece 23 May 1960

Guinea 5 Aug 1960

Honduras 23 Feb 1960

Iceland 5 Jan 1961

India 23 Feb 1960

Indonesia 4 Nov 1959

Iran (Islamic Republic of) 2 May 1960

Iraq . 25 Nov 1959

Ireland 15 Oct 1960

Israel 4 Jan 1960

Italy 28 Dec 1960

Jamaica 21 Mar 1963

Jordan 25 Mar 1960

Kazakhstan 19 Aug 1992

Kuwait 9 May 1960

Kyrgyzstan 29 Apr 1992

Lao People's Democratic Republic 4 May 1960

Latvia 4 Dec 1991

Lebanon 3 Jan 1961

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 8 Feb 1960

Lithuania 25 Nov 1991

Luxembourg . 25 Oct 1960

Madagascar 16 Jan 1961

Malaysia 4 Feb 1960

Mali 17 Oct 1960

Marshall Islands 5 Jun 1991

Mauritania 7 Mar 1961

Mexico 2 Aug 1960

Micronesia (Federated States of) 14 Aug 1991

Morocco 28 Mar 1960

Myanmar 19 Apr 1960

Nauru 9 May 1994

Nepal 12 May 1960

Netherlands11 14 Sep 1960

New Zealand 4 Apr 1960

Niger 5 Oct 1960

Nigeria 25 Nov 1960

Niue 5 May 1994

Norway 2 Nov 1959

Pakistan 12 Feb 1960

Palau 9 Mar 1995

Paraguay 8 Feb 1960

Philippines 25 Mar 1960

Poland 18 Feb 1960

Republic of Korea . 29 Dec 1959

Republic of Moldova 4 May 1992

Romania 2 Dec 1960

Russian Federation 17 Jun 1960

Rwanda 7 Nov 1962

Samoa 16 May 1962

Slovakia3 4 Feb 1993

Slovenia 7 May 1992

Somalia . 26 Jan 1961

Spain 4 Nov 1959

Sri Lanka 9 May 1960

Sudan 1 Apr 1960

Sweden 1 Dec 1959

Switzerland 15 Jan 1960

Syrian Arab Republic12 25 Mar 1960

Tajikistan 4 May 1992

Thailand 24 Sep 1959

the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia 22 Apr 1993

Togo 13 May 1960

Trinidad and Tobago 3 Jan 1963

Tunisia 18 Mar 1960

Turkey 10 Jan 1962

Turkmenistan 2 Jul 1992

Tuvalu 7 May 1993

Uganda 7 Mar 1963

United Kingdom 1 Apr 1960

Uzbekistan 22 May 1992

Venezuela 20 Mar 1961

Viet Nam13 7 Sep 1959

Yugoslavia 8 Apr 1960

Amendments to articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization

Adopted by the Twenty-ninth World Health Assembly by resolution WHA 29.33 of 17 May 1976

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20 January 1984, in accordance with article 73 of the Constitution.

REGISTRATION: 20 January 1984, No. 221.

TEXT: United Nations, Treaty Series, vol.1347, 289.

STATUS: Acceptances: 140.

Participant

Acceptance

Afghanistan 20 Sep 1982

Algeria 23 Nov 1983

Andorra 15 Jan 1997

Armenia 4 May 1992

Australia 30 Mar 1977

Azerbaijan 2 Oct 1992

Bahamas 29 May 1980

Bahrain 25 Apr 1980

Bangladesh 3 Aug 1978

Barbados 3 Aug 1977

Belgium 29 Dec 1977

Belize 23 Aug 1990

Benin 4 May 1983

Bhutan 8 Sep 1982

Bolivia 16 Jun 1982

Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 Sep 1992

Botswana 24 Feb 1978

Brazil 27 Aug 1982

Bulgaria 18 Jan 1983

Burundi 21 Jul 1981

Cambodia 17 Aug 1983

Cameroon 25 Sep 1978

Canada 20 Jan 1984

Cape Verde 13 Jan 1978

Chile 5 Aug 1982

China 20 May 1982

Comoros 13 Dec 1982

Côte d'Ivoire 16 Dec 1977

Croatia 11 Jun 1992

Cyprus 27 Nov 1985

Czech Republic3 22 Jan 1993

Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2 Mar 1982

Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 May 1983

Denmark 1 Jul 1981

Djibouti 5 Dec 1983

Ecuador 22 Nov 1976

Egypt 21 Dec 1976

Eritrea 24 Jul 1993

Ethiopia 6 Jan 1977

Fiji 20 May 1981

Finland 14 Jun 1977

France 22 Jul 1981

Gabon 11 May 1982

Georgia 26 May 1992

Germany27,28 16 Jan 1985

Greece 27 Feb 1978

Guatemala 16 Jan 1979

Guinea-Bissau 5 Feb 1980

Guyana 30 Sep 1982

Hungary 4 May 1983

Iceland 22 Jul 1983

India 23 Jan 1978

Indonesia 24 May 1978

Iran (Islamic Republic of) 22 Feb 1980

Iraq29 25 Sep 1978

Ireland 16 Feb 1982

Italy 17 May 1983

Jamaica 11 Apr 1983

Jordan 10 Jun 1983

Kazakhstan 19 Aug 1992

Kenya 1 Mar 1983

Kuwait 7 Jun 1984

Kyrgyzstan 29 Apr 1992

Lao People's Democratic Republic 23 Jan 1978

Latvia 4 Dec 1991

Lebanon 21 Jun 1982

Liberia 25 May 1982

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 16 Jun 1982

Lithuania 25 Nov 1991

Luxembourg 22 Jun 1982

Madagascar 8 Mar 1983

Malawi 9 Apr 1980

Malaysia 25 Jan 1984

Maldives 20 Sep 1977

Malta 20 Jul 1977

Marshall Islands 5 Jun 1991

Mauritania 28 Apr 1982

Mauritius 3 Sep 1981

Mexico 23 Feb 1979

Micronesia (Federated States of) 14 Aug 1991

Monaco 13 Jan 1983

Mongolia 10 Nov 1981

Mozambique 27 Feb 1978

Myanmar 15 Jun 1979

Nauru 9 May 1994

Nepal 23 Apr 1980

Netherlands24 18 Oct 1977

New Zealand 26 Mar 1980

Nicaragua 16 Feb 1983

Niger 28 Dec 1976

Niue 5 May 1994

Norway 29 Dec 1976

Oman 8 Aug 1980

Palau 9 Mar 1995

Panama 12 Nov 1984

Papua New Guinea 1 Jul 1983

Peru 10 Oct 1978

Philippines 7 Oct 1981

Portugal 26 Jun 1978

Qatar 7 Dec 1982

Republic of Moldova 4 May 1992

Romania 18 Jul 1977

Russian Federation 1 Apr 1982

Samoa 9 May 1980

San Marino 28 Oct 1980

Sao Tome and Principe 12 Apr 1982

Saudi Arabia 13 Jan 1977

Senegal 12 Jan 1983

Seychelles 22 Feb 1980

Singapore 9 Jun 1983

Slovakia3 4 Feb 1993

Slovenia 7 May 1992

Spain 4 Nov 1976

Sri Lanka 6 Oct 1978

Sudan 13 Jul 1982

Suriname 4 Oct 1976

Sweden 4 Feb 1980

Switzerland 21 Jul 1978

Tajikistan 4 May 1992

Thailand 7 Jun 1978

the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia 22 Apr 1993

Togo 18 Oct 1982

Tonga 28 Nov 1977

Trinidad and Tobago 4 Jun 1985

Tunisia 30 Sep 1983

Turkey 29 Dec 1982

Turkmenistan 2 Jul 1992

Tuvalu 7 May 1993

Uganda 10 Jan 1978

United Arab Emirates 7 Oct 1982

United Kingdom 24 Feb 1978

United States of America 11 Nov 1982

Uruguay 10 Apr 1978

Uzbekistan 22 May 1992

Venezuela 17 Aug 1983

Viet Nam 30 Dec 1981

Yemen30 8 Mar 1982

Yugoslavia 2 Sep 1983

Zambia 10 Aug 1984

Zimbabwe 13 Oct 1982

Amendments to articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization

Adopted by the Thirty-ninth World Health Assembly by resolution WHA 39.6 of 12 May 1986

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 11 July 1994, in accordance with article 73 of the Constitution.

TEXT: Doc. WHA39/1986/REC/1, p. 3.

STATUS: Acceptances: 137.

Participant

Acceptance

Afghanistan 7 Dec 1989

Andorra 15 Jan 1997

Argentina 11 Apr 1995

Australia 25 Feb 1987

Bahamas 2 Jun 1987

Bahrain 21 Jun 1991

Bangladesh 18 May 1994

Barbados 2 Nov 1993

Belarus 16 Feb 1993

Belgium 5 Feb 1987

Bhutan 23 Oct 1990

Bolivia 18 Mar 1992

Bosnia and Herzegovina 16 Jul 1993

Botswana 10 Jan 1992

Brunei Darussalam 4 Mar 1987

Bulgaria 4 May 1994

Burkina Faso 1 Apr 1992

Cambodia 17 Nov 1993

Cameroon 15 Oct 1987

Chad 26 May 1993

Chile 21 Aug 1995

China 4 Dec 1986

Colombia 24 Sep 1993

Comoros 29 Jul 1994

Congo 13 Jul 1993

Cook Islands 2 Jan 1990

Côte d'Ivoire 30 Apr 1993

Croatia 11 Feb 1993

Cyprus 18 Jan 1990

Denmark 8 Jul 1991

Djibouti 2 Jun 1993

Dominica 1 Mar 1990

Ecuador 14 Apr 1993

Egypt 10 Sep 1990

El Salvador 13 Jan 1994

Ethiopia 4 Dec 1990

Fiji 23 Oct 1989

Finland 19 Dec 1986

France 17 Mar 1987

Gabon 20 May 1987

Germany32,33 15 Sep 1987

Ghana 4 Oct 1991

Greece 23 Jan 1991

Grenada 31 Dec 1991

Guatemala 21 Jul 1994

Guinea 27 Dec 1991

Guinea-Bissau 7 Nov 1991

Honduras 9 Jan 1991

Hungary 2 June 1992

Iceland 2 Apr 1991

India 12 Dec 1988

Indonesia 6 Jul 1988

Iran (Islamic Republic of) 22 Oct 1990

Iraq 20 Mar 1990

Ireland 6 Oct 1993

Italy 30 Jun 1995

Jamaica 4 Dec 1986

Japan 23 Jun 1987

Jordan 26 Mar 1987

Kiribati 11 May 1988

Kuwait 27 Apr 1987

Lao People's Democratic Republic 5 Apr 1988

Latvia 19 Apr 1993

Lebanon 9 Sep 1993

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 22 Jul 1996

Lithuania 11 Mar 1993

Luxembourg 29 Sep 1987

Madagascar 24 Nov 1986

Malaysia 29 Sep 1988

Maldives 26 Oct 1990

Malta 23 Jan 1990

Marshall Islands 12 Jul 1993

Mauritius 23 Apr 1993

Mexico 17 Feb 1989

Micronesia (Federated
States of) 13 Mar 1992

Monaco 22 Feb 1990

Mongolia 26 Mar 1993

Morocco 2 Mar 1987

Mozambique 8 Oct 1991

Myanmar 17 Nov 1993

Namibia 11 Nov 1991

Nepal 30 Aug 1990

Netherlands24 6 Nov 1987

New Zealand 30 Dec 1986

Nicaragua 14 Apr 1994

Nigeria 3 Jan 1991

Niue 11 Jul 1994

Norway 1 Feb 1990

Oman 3 Jul 1990

Pakistan 22 Aug 1994

Palau 9 Mar 1995

Panama 14 Jun 1990

Papua New Guinea 17 Oct 1990

Peru 21 Sep 1995

Philippines 16 Mar 1989

Portugal 22 Mar 1994

Qatar 17 May 1993

Republic of Korea 5 May 1987

Romania 17 Nov 1993

Russian Federation 2 Apr 1990

Samoa 21 Feb 1991

Saint Lucia 26 Sep 1991

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 24 Sep 1991

San Marino 30 Jul 1987

Saudi Arabia 10 Jan 1990

Senegal 16 Apr 1987

Seychelles 30 Jul 1993

Sierra Leone 25 Jul 1994

Singapore 2 Mar 1987

Slovenia 21 Jun 1993

Solomon Islands 9 Mar 1987

South Africa 5 May 1994

Spain 17 Apr 1991

Participant

Acceptance

Sri Lanka 21 May 1993

Sudan 13 Nov 1990

Swaziland 10 Dec 1991

Sweden 10 Oct 1986

Switzerland 19 Feb 1987

Syrian Arab Republic 6 Feb 1990

Thailand 15 Aug 1990

Togo 30 Jan 1987

Tonga 2 Jan 1987

Trinidad and Tobago 15 Oct 1986

Tunisia 4 Oct 1990

Turkmenistan 16 Apr 1993

Tuvalu 27 Jan 1994

Objections
(Unless otherwise indicated, the objections were made upon acceptance.)

france

13 October 1983

The Secretariat should take note that France not recognizing the Government of the [Democratic Kampuchea], considers as being without effect the acceptance by that Government of the 1976 amendments to articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization, adopted by the Twenty-ninth World Health Assembly on 17 May 1976.

(h) Amendments to articles 24 and 25 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization

Adopted by the Fifty-first World Health Assembly in resolution WHA 51.23 of 16 May 1998

NOT YET IN FORCE: (see article 73 of the Constitution).

TEXT: Doc. WHA51/1998/REC/1, p. 26.

STATUS: Acceptances: 42.

Participant

Acceptance

Andorra 31 Mar 1999

Angola 29 Sep 1998

Bahrain 20 Jul 1998

Belgium 8 Mar 1999

Benin 10 Sep 1998

China 6 Nov 1998

Comoros 15 Sep 1998

Côte d'Ivoire 24 Sep 1998

Democratic People's
Republic of Korea 7 Oct 1998

Denmark 20 Jan 1999

Dominica 26 Aug 1998

Fiji 9 Feb 1999

Finland 14 Jul 1998

Ghana 5 Nov 1998

Greece 7 Dec 1998

Lebanon 21 Oct 1998

Mali 5 Nov 1998

Mauritius 17 Mar 1999

Micronesia (Federated
States of) 9 Sep 1998

Morocco 12 Mar 1999

Namibia 26 Mar 1999

Nauru 10 Mar 1999

Oman 4 Dec 1998

Palau 5 Nov 1998

Peru 19 Aug 1998

Samoa 19 Aug 1998

San Marino 5 Nov 1998

Saudi Arabia 23 Mar 1999

Seychelles 10 Sep 1998

Singapore 4 Dec 1998

Slovenia 21 Oct 1998

Sweden 16 Sep 1998

Switzerland 13 Nov 1998

Tajikistan 21 Jul 1998

Thailand 4 Aug 1998

the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia 9 Mar 1999

Togo 15 Dec 1998

Uganda 16 Sep 1998

United Arab Emirates 15 Dec 1998

United Republic of Tanzania 23 Sep 1998

Vanuatu 5 Oct 1998

Zimbabwe 14 Sep 1998

Notes:

1 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, First Session, Supplement No. 1, p. 86.

2 See note concerning signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc., on behalf of China (note in chapter I.1).

3 Czechoslovakia had signed and accepted the Convention on 22 July 1946 and 1 March 1948, respectively. Subsequently, Czechoslovakia had accepted the amendments to articles 24 and 25 adopted by the Twentieth and Thirty-ninth sessions of the World Health Assembly by resolutions WHA 20.36 and WHA 39.6, on 4 September 1968 and 16 August 1991, respectively. See also note in chapter I.2.

4 The German Democratic Republic had accepted the Constitution on 8 May 1973. See also note in chapter I.2.

5 In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 6 October 1964, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany stated that the Constitution of the World Health Organization, including the amendments which came into force on 25 October 1960, applies to Land Berlin. With reference to the above-mentioned statement, communications have been addressed to the Secretary-General by the Governments of Albania, Bulgaria, the Byelorussian SSR, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on the one hand, and by the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, on the other hand. The said communications are identical in essence, mutatis mutandis, to the corresponding ones referred to in note of chapter III.3.

Subsequently, in a communication received by the Secretary-General on 3 October 1990, the Government of Hungary indicated that, the German State having achieved its unity on this day (3 October 1990), it had decided to withdraw, as from that date, the declaration it had made with respect to the notification of extension by the Federal Republic of Germany to Land Berlin. See also note 4 above.

6 See note in chapter I.2.

7 Accepted subject to the provisions of the joint resolution of the Congress of the United States of America approved 14 June 1948 (Public Law 643, 80th Congress), section 4 of which reads as follows: "In adopting this joint resolution the Congress does so with the understanding that, in the absence of any provision in the World Health Organization Constitution for withdrawal from the organization, the United States reserves its right to withdraw from the organization on a one-year notice, provided, however, that the financial obligations of the United States to the organization shall be met in full for the organization's current fiscal year."

"The World Health Assembly adopted unanimously on 2 July 1948 the following resolution: "The Assembly recognized the validity of the ratification by the United States of America and resolved that the Secretary-General of the United Nations be advised of this decision."

8 By a letter dated at Hanoi on 12 July 1976, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet-Nam notified the Director-General of the World Health Organization that the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam had united to form the Socialist Republic of Viet-Nam, and that the latter would continue to exercise the official membership in the World Health Organization of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam and the Republic of South Viet-Nam. The above-mentioned communication from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet-Nam was brought to the attention of the Member States of the World Health Organization by a circular letter from the Director-General of that Organization dated 30 August 1976. The Thirtieth World Health Assembly took note of the said notification in its resolution WHA 30.13 dated 10 May 1977. The Constitution of the World Health Organization had been accepted on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam on 22 October 1975 and on behalf of the Republic of Viet-Nam (later replaced by the Republic of South Viet-Nam) on 17 May 1950.

9 Democratic Yemen had accepted the Constitution on 6 May 1968. See also note in chapter I.2.

10 Acceptance on behalf of the Republic of China on 25 April 1960. See note concerning signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc. on behalf of China (note in chapter I.1).

11 The instrument of acceptance stipulates that the Kingdom of the Netherlands accepts the amendments for the Kingdom in Europe, Surinam, the Netherlands Antilles and Netherlands New Guinea.

12 Acceptance by the United Arab Republic. See note in chapter I.1.

13 See note 8. The amendments had been accepted on behalf of the Republic of Viet-Nam (later replaced by the Republic of South Viet-Nam) on 7 September 1959.

14 The German Democratic Republic had accepted the amendment to article 7 on 21 February 1974. See also note in chapter I.2.

15 With a declaration to the effect that the acceptance of the Amendments by the Chiang Kai-shek clique usurping the name of China is illegal and null and void. See note concerning signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc., on behalf of China (note in chapter I.1). An instrument of acceptance on behalf of the Republic of China had been deposited with the Secretary-General on 19 January 1971. In this connection, the Secretary-General had received communications from the Governments of Mongolia, Poland, Romania and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics objecting to the said acceptance, as well as communications in reply on behalf of the Government of the Republic of China.

16 The German Democratic Republic had accepted the amendments to articles 24 and 25 on 21 February 1974. See also note in chapter I.2.

17 With a declaration to the effect that "the said amendments will also apply to Land Berlin with effect from the date on which they enter into force for the Federal Republic of Germany."

With reference to the above-mentioned statement, communications have been addressed to the Secretary-General by the Governments of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Mongolia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The said communications are identical in essence, mutatis mutandis, to the corresponding ones referred to in note of chapter III.3. See also note 16 above.

18 In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 24 February 1972 with reference to the above-mentioned acceptance, the Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations stated that his Government considers that the said acceptance constitutes an illegal act, inasmuch as the South Korean authorities can, in no case, act on behalf of Korea.

19 The instrument of acceptance contains the following statement:

"As was the case in the original acceptance by the United States of America of the Constitution of the World Health Organization, the present acceptance is subject to the provisions of the joint resolution of the Congress of the United States of America approved June 14, 1948 (Public Law 643, 80th Congress)."

20 See note 8. The amendments had been accepted on behalf of the Republic of Viet-Nam (later replaced by the Republic of South Viet-Nam) on 12 July 1973.

21 The formality was effected by Democratic Yemen. See also note in chapter I.2.

22 The German Democratic Republic had accepted the amendments to articles 34 and 55 on 13 July 1976. See also note in chapter I.2.

23 With a declaration that the said amendments shall also apply to Berlin (West) with effect from the date on which they enter into force for the Federal Republic of Germany. See also note 22 above.

24 On behalf of the Kingdom in Europe, Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles.

25 See note 8. The amendments had been accepted on behalf of the Republic of Viet-Nam (later replaced by the Republic of South Viet-Nam) on 10 October 1974.

26 The Yemen Arab Republic had accepted the amendments to articles 34 and 35 on 11 February 1977. See also note in chapter I.2.

27 See note in chapter I.2.

c28 In a note accompanying the instrument, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany declared that the amendments shall also apply to Berlin (West) with effect from the date on which they entered into force for the Federal Republic of Germany. See also note 27 above.

29 The instrument of acceptance contains the following declaration: The acceptance shall in no way imply recognition of Israel or be a cause for the establishment of any relations of any kind therewith.

In this respect the Secretary-General received on 11 May 1979 from the Government of Israel the following communication:

"The Instrument deposited by the Government of Iraq contains a statement of a political character in respect to Israel. In the view of the Government of Israel, this is not the proper place for making such political pronouncements, which are, moreover, in flagrant contradiction to the principles, objects and purposes of the Organization. That pronouncement by the Government of Iraq cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon it under general international law or under particular treaties.

"The Government of Israel will, insofar as concerns the substance of the matter, adopt towards the Government of Iraq an attitude of complete reciprocity."

30 Democratic Yemen had accepted the amendments to articles 24 and 25 adopted on 17 May 1976, on 3 May 1982. See also note in chapter I.2.

31 The formality was effected by the Yemen Arab Republic. See also note in chapter I.2.

32 See note in chapter I.2.

33 In a letter accompanying the instrument of acceptance, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany declared that the said amendments shall also apply to Berlin (West) with effect from the date on which they enter into force for the Federal Republic of Germany. See also note c 32 above.