Duhaime's Law Dictionary Protocol Definition: International agreements of a less formal nature than a treaty and which amends, supplements or clarifies a treaty. Related Terms: Treaty The United Nations Treaty Handbook defines a protocol as follows:"A protocol, in the context of treaty law and practice, has the same legal characteristics as a treaty."The term protocol is often used to describe agreements of a less formal nature than those entitled treaty or convention."Generally, a protocol amends, supplements or clarifies a multilateral treaty."A protocol is normally open to participation by the parties to the parent agreement. However, in recent times States have negotiated a number of protocols that do not follow this principle. The advantage of a protocol is that, while it is linked to the parent agreement, it can focus on a specific aspect of that agreement in greater detail."Relying on R. v. Ashford Remand Home, the 2011 Canadian encyclopedia of law (C. E. D.), within the chapter on International Law:"The term protocol is usually reserved for an instrument that is added to an agreement either by way of annex or as a supplement, and it is not always entered into at the same time as the principal document."REFERENCES:R. v. Ashford Remand Home, [1987] 3 W.L.R. 1141 (House of Lords)United Nations, Treaty Handbook (New York: Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs, 2006), page 62 Categories & Topics: Duhaime's Contract Law Dictionary Duhaime's International Law Dictionary Always looking up definitions? Save time with our search provider (modern browsers only) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Law Dictionary, or if you have suggestion for a legal term, we'd love to hear from you!