国际条约的单方退出与契约精神

Unilateral Withdrawal of International Treaties and the Spirit of Contractual

新冠肺炎疫情全球蔓延,然而美国却正式向世界卫生组织和联合国秘书长提交了退出协调全球抗击疫情行动的世界卫生组织的通知。从国际法角度看,退出世界卫生组织实际上就是退出《世界卫生组织组织法》,在无退约条款情形下的确存在当事国单方退约的权利,但这一权利并不是没有限制的,需满足一定的实体条件并遵循相应的程序,因此根据《世界卫生组织组织法》和条约法的规定,美国在满足了一定的条件后可以合法退出世界卫生组织,退出生效后美国将不再享受条约权利也不再承担条约义务;从其契约精神角度看,在无退约条款情形下的退约行为并不符合契约精神的要求,是对契约精神的公然违背。

The spread of COVID-19 is a global trend.However,the United States formally submitted a notice of withdrawal from the WHO that coordinating the global fighting against the epidemic of COVID-19 to the WHO and the UN Secretary General.From the perspective of international law,withdrawal from the World Health Organization is actually withdrawal from the constitution of the World Health Organization.In the absence of withdrawal clause,it is indeed the parties’right to withdraw unilaterally.However,this right is not unlimited,and it needs to meet certain substantive conditions and to follow corresponding procedures.The United States would legally withdraw from the World Health Organization if it meets certain conditions.When the withdrawal takes effect,the United States will no longer enjoy the treaty’s rights and no longer undertake the treaty’s obligations.From the perspective of the spirit of contract,the withdrawal in the absence of the withdrawal clause does not meet the requirement of the spirit of contract,which is a blatant violation to the spirit of contract.