Treaty Making Process
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs oversees the process by
which the Government of Belize enters into, and withdraws
from or denounces, treaties.
In the power to take binding treaty action (that is,
ratification, accession, acceptance, approval, withdrawal
or denunciation)
rests with the Executive. Within this context, the ratification
of any treaty by the Government of Belize including any
treaty for the final settlement of the territorial dispute
between Belize and the Republic of Guatemala shall be authorised
by the Senate, before the Executive takes binding treaty
action.
The key features of the treaty making process include:
•
Negotiation: Belize government officials as appropriate
are involved in the negotiation of all bilateral treaties
and important multilateral treaties to which Belize is
interested in becoming party.
•
Cabinet approval of the text: Once the text of a treaty
is finalised, the appropriate Minister (in consultation,
or jointly, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs) must
seek Cabinet approval for the formal steps involved in
taking the proposed treaty action (these steps differ depending
on the nature of the treaty).
•
Signature: The treaty making process for some multilateral
treaties requires non-binding signature before binding
treaty action (e.g. ratification) is taken. Non-binding
treaty action may be taken after Cabinet has approved the
text of a treaty.
•
Presentation to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee
of the Senate: The Senate treaty examination process, introduced
in 2002 in accordance with the Belize Constitution (Senate)
Standing Orders, requires all treaties to be presented
to the Constitution and Foreign Affairs Committee before
binding treaty action is taken.
•
Binding treaty action: Formal treaty action (such as ratification
or accession) binds Belize to the obligations in a multilateral
treaty. The Government completes the treaty making process
by depositing the appropriate formal instrument with the
treaty depositary. For bilateral treaties, signature or
the exchange of instruments of ratification is usually
the binding step.
