CONSTITUTION OF WHO 1

Basic Documents, Forty-fifth edition, Supplement, October 2006

This text replaces that on pages 1-18 of the Forty-fifth edition of Basic documents, following
the coming into force of amendments adopted by the Fifty-first World Health Assembly.

CONSTITUTION
OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION1

THE STATES Parties to this Constitution declare, in conformity with the

Charter of the United Nations, that the following principles are basic to the
happiness, harmonious relations and security of all peoples:
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the
fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race,
religion, political belief, economic or social condition.
The health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and
security and is dependent upon the fullest co-operation of individuals
and States.
The achievement of any State in the promotion and protection of health
is of value to all.
Unequal development in different countries in the promotion of health
and control of disease, especially communicable disease, is a common
danger.
Healthy development of the child is of basic importance; the ability to
live harmoniously in a changing total environment is essential to such
development.
The extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological
and related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health.
Informed opinion and active co-operation on the part of the public are of
the utmost importance in the improvement of the health of the people.
Governments have a responsibility for the health of their peoples which
can be fulfilled only by the provision of adequate health and social
measures.
ACCEPTING THESE PRINCIPLES, and for the purpose of co-operation
among themselves and with others to promote and protect the health of all
peoples, the Contracting Parties agree to the present Constitution and
1
The Constitution was adopted by the International Health Conference held in New York from 19 June
to 22 July 1946, signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Off. Rec. Wld Hlth Org., 2,
100), and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Amendments adopted by the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-ninth,
Thirty-ninth and Fifty-first World Health Assemblies (resolutions WHA26.37, WHA29.38, WHA39.6 and
WHA51.23) came into force on 3 February 1977, 20 January 1984, 11 July 1994 and 15 September 2005
respectively and are incorporated in the present text.

–1–
2 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

hereby establish the World Health Organization as a specialized agency

within the terms of Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations.

CHAPTER I – OBJECTIVE
Article 1
The objective of the World Health Organization (hereinafter called the
Organization) shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible
level of health.

CHAPTER II – FUNCTIONS
Article 2
In order to achieve its objective, the functions of the Organization shall
be:
(a) to act as the directing and co-ordinating authority on international
health work;
(b) to establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United
Nations, specialized agencies, governmental health administrations,
professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed
appropriate;
(c) to assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;
(d) to furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, neces-
sary aid upon the request or acceptance of Governments;
(e) to provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United
Nations, health services and facilities to special groups, such as the
peoples of trust territories;
(f) to establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as
may be required, including epidemiological and statistical services;
(g) to stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and
other diseases;
(h) to promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where nec-
essary, the prevention of accidental injuries;
(i) to promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where nec-
essary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation,
economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental
hygiene;
(j) to promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups
which contribute to the advancement of health;
(k) to propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make recom-
mendations with respect to international health matters and to perform
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 3

such duties as may be assigned thereby to the Organization and are

consistent with its objective;
(l) to promote maternal and child health and welfare and to foster the abil-
ity to live harmoniously in a changing total environment;
(m) to foster activities in the field of mental health, especially those affect-
ing the harmony of human relations;
(n) to promote and conduct research in the field of health;
(o) to promote improved standards of teaching and training in the health,
medical and related professions;
(p) to study and report on, in co-operation with other specialized agencies
where necessary, administrative and social techniques affecting public
health and medical care from preventive and curative points of view,
including hospital services and social security;
(q) to provide information, counsel and assistance in the field of health;
(r) to assist in developing an informed public opinion among all peoples
on matters of health;
(s) to establish and revise as necessary international nomenclatures of dis-
eases, of causes of death and of public health practices;
(t) to standardize diagnostic procedures as necessary;
(u) to develop, establish and promote international standards with respect
to food, biological, pharmaceutical and similar products;
(v) generally to take all necessary action to attain the objective of the
Organization.

CHAPTER III – MEMBERSHIP AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Article 3
Membership in the Organization shall be open to all States.

Article 4
Members of the United Nations may become Members of the Organiza-
tion by signing or otherwise accepting this Constitution in accordance with
the provisions of Chapter XIX and in accordance with their constitutional
processes.

Article 5
The States whose Governments have been invited to send observers to
the International Health Conference held in New York, 1946, may become
4 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

Members by signing or otherwise accepting this Constitution in accordance

with the provisions of Chapter XIX and in accordance with their constitu-
tional processes provided that such signature or acceptance shall be com-
pleted before the first session of the Health Assembly.

Article 6

Subject to the conditions of any agreement between the United Nations

and the Organization, approved pursuant to Chapter XVI, States which do
not become Members in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 may apply to
become Members and shall be admitted as Members when their application
has been approved by a simple majority vote of the Health Assembly.

Article 7 1

If a Member fails to meet its financial obligations to the Organization or

in other exceptional circumstances, the Health Assembly may, on such con-
ditions as it thinks proper, suspend the voting privileges and services to
which a Member is entitled. The Health Assembly shall have the authority
to restore such voting privileges and services.

Article 8

Territories or groups of territories which are not responsible for the con-
duct of their international relations may be admitted as Associate Members
by the Health Assembly upon application made on behalf of such territory
or group of territories by the Member or other authority having responsibil-
ity for their international relations. Representatives of Associate Members
to the Health Assembly should be qualified by their technical competence
in the field of health and should be chosen from the native population. The
nature and extent of the rights and obligations of Associate Members shall
be determined by the Health Assembly.

CHAPTER IV – ORGANS
Article 9

The work of the Organization shall be carried out by:

(a) The World Health Assembly (herein called the Health Assembly);
(b) The Executive Board (hereinafter called the Board);
(c) The Secretariat.
1
The amendment to this Article adopted by the Eighteenth World Health Assembly (resolution
WHA18.48) has not yet come into force.
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 5

CHAPTER V – THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Article 10
The Health Assembly shall be composed of delegates representing
Members.

Article 11
Each Member shall be represented by not more than three delegates, one
of whom shall be designated by the Member as chief delegate. These dele-
gates should be chosen from among persons most qualified by their techni-
cal competence in the field of health, preferably representing the national
health administration of the Member.

Article 12
Alternates and advisers may accompany delegates.

Article 13
The Health Assembly shall meet in regular annual session and in such
special sessions as may be necessary. Special sessions shall be convened at
the request of the Board or of a majority of the Members.

Article 14
The Health Assembly, at each annual session, shall select the country or
region in which the next annual session shall be held, the Board subse-
quently fixing the place. The Board shall determine the place where a spe-
cial session shall be held.

Article 15
The Board, after consultation with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, shall determine the date of each annual and special session.

Article 16
The Health Assembly shall elect its President and other officers at the
beginning of each annual session. They shall hold office until their succes-
sors are elected.

Article 17
The Health Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
6 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

Article 18

The functions of the Health Assembly shall be:

(a) to determine the policies of the Organization;
(b) to name the Members entitled to designate a person to serve on the
Board;
(c) to appoint the Director-General;
(d) to review and approve reports and activities of the Board and of the
Director-General and to instruct the Board in regard to matters upon
which action, study, investigation or report may be considered desira-
ble;
(e) to establish such committees as may be considered necessary for the
work of the Organization;
(f) to supervise the financial policies of the Organization and to review and
approve the budget;
(g) to instruct the Board and the Director-General to bring to the attention
of Members and of international organizations, governmental or non-
governmental, any matter with regard to health which the Health
Assembly may consider appropriate;
(h) to invite any organization, international or national, governmental or
non-governmental, which has responsibilities related to those of the
Organization, to appoint representatives to participate, without right of
vote, in its meetings or in those of the committees and conferences con-
vened under its authority, on conditions prescribed by the Health
Assembly; but in the case of national organizations, invitations shall be
issued only with the consent of the Government concerned;
(i) to consider recommendations bearing on health made by the General
Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council or
Trusteeship Council of the United Nations, and to report to them on the
steps taken by the Organization to give effect to such recommenda-
tions;
(j) to report to the Economic and Social Council in accordance with any
agreement between the Organization and the United Nations;
(k) to promote and conduct research in the field of health by the personnel
of the Organization, by the establishment of its own institutions or by
co-operation with official or non-official institutions of any Member
with the consent of its Government;
(l) to establish such other institutions as it may consider desirable;
(m) to take any other appropriate action to further the objective of the
Organization.
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 7

Article 19

The Health Assembly shall have authority to adopt conventions or

agreements with respect to any matter within the competence of the Organ-
ization. A two-thirds vote of the Health Assembly shall be required for the
adoption of such conventions or agreements, which shall come into force
for each Member when accepted by it in accordance with its constitutional
processes.

Article 20

Each Member undertakes that it will, within eighteen months after the
adoption by the Health Assembly of a convention or agreement, take action
relative to the acceptance of such convention or agreement. Each Member
shall notify the Director-General of the action taken, and if it does not
accept such convention or agreement within the time limit, it will furnish a
statement of the reasons for non-acceptance. In case of acceptance, each
Member agrees to make an annual report to the Director-General in accord-
ance with Chapter XIV.

Article 21

The Health Assembly shall have authority to adopt regulations concern-

ing:
(a) sanitary and quarantine requirements and other procedures designed to
prevent the international spread of disease;
(b) nomenclatures with respect to diseases, causes of death and public
health practices;
(c) standards with respect to diagnostic procedures for international use;
(d) standards with respect to the safety, purity and potency of biological,
pharmaceutical and similar products moving in international com-
merce;
(e) advertising and labelling of biological, pharmaceutical and similar
products moving in international commerce.

Article 22

Regulations adopted pursuant to Article 21 shall come into force for all
Members after due notice has been given of their adoption by the Health
Assembly except for such Members as may notify the Director-General of
rejection or reservations within the period stated in the notice.
8 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

Article 23
The Health Assembly shall have authority to make recommendations to
Members with respect to any matter within the competence of the Organi-
zation.

CHAPTER VI – THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Article 24
The Board shall consist of thirty-four persons designated by as many
Members. The Health Assembly, taking into account an equitable geo-
graphical distribution, shall elect the Members entitled to designate a per-
son to serve on the Board, provided that, of such Members, not less than
three shall be elected from each of the regional organizations established
pursuant to Article 44. Each of these Members should appoint to the Board
a person technically qualified in the field of health, who may be accompa-
nied by alternates and advisers.

Article 25
These Members shall be elected for three years and may be re-elected,
provided that of the Members elected at the first session of the Health
Assembly held after the coming into force of the amendment to this Consti-
tution increasing the membership of the Board from thirty-two to thirty-
four the term of office of the additional Members elected shall, insofar as
may be necessary, be of such lesser duration as shall facilitate the election
of at least one Member from each regional organization in each year.

Article 26
The Board shall meet at least twice a year and shall determine the place
of each meeting.

Article 27
The Board shall elect its Chairman from among its members and shall
adopt its own rules of procedure.

Article 28
The functions of the Board shall be:
(a) to give effect to the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly;
(b) to act as the executive organ of the Health Assembly;
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 9

(c) to perform any other functions entrusted to it by the Health Assembly;

(d) to advise the Health Assembly on questions referred to it by that body
and on matters assigned to the Organization by conventions, agree-
ments and regulations;
(e) to submit advice or proposals to the Health Assembly on its own initia-
tive;
(f) to prepare the agenda of meetings of the Health Assembly;
(g) to submit to the Health Assembly for consideration and approval a gen-
eral programme of work covering a specific period;
(h) to study all questions within its competence;
(i) to take emergency measures within the functions and financial
resources of the Organization to deal with events requiring immediate
action. In particular it may authorize the Director-General to take the
necessary steps to combat epidemics, to participate in the organization
of health relief to victims of a calamity and to undertake studies and
research the urgency of which has been drawn to the attention of the
Board by any Member or by the Director-General.

Article 29

The Board shall exercise on behalf of the whole Health Assembly the
powers delegated to it by that body.

CHAPTER VII – THE SECRETARIAT

Article 30

The Secretariat shall comprise the Director-General and such technical

and administrative staff as the Organization may require.

Article 31

The Director-General shall be appointed by the Health Assembly on the

nomination of the Board on such terms as the Health Assembly may deter-
mine. The Director-General, subject to the authority of the Board, shall be
the chief technical and administrative officer of the Organization.

Article 32

The Director-General shall be ex-officio Secretary of the Health Assem-

bly, of the Board, of all commissions and committees of the Organization
and of conferences convened by it. He may delegate these functions.
10 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

Article 33
The Director-General or his representative may establish a procedure by
agreement with Members, permitting him, for the purpose of discharging
his duties, to have direct access to their various departments, especially to
their health administrations and to national health organizations, govern-
mental or non-governmental. He may also establish direct relations with
international organizations whose activities come within the competence of
the Organization. He shall keep regional offices informed on all matters
involving their respective areas.

Article 34
The Director-General shall prepare and submit to the Board the financial
statements and budget estimates of the Organization.

Article 35
The Director-General shall appoint the staff of the Secretariat in accord-
ance with staff regulations established by the Health Assembly. The para-
mount consideration in the employment of the staff shall be to assure that
the efficiency, integrity and internationally representative character of the
Secretariat shall be maintained at the highest level. Due regard shall be paid
also to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical
basis as possible.

Article 36
The conditions of service of the staff of the Organization shall conform
as far as possible with those of other United Nations organizations.

Article 37
In the performance of their duties the Director-General and the staff
shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any
authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action
which might reflect on their position as international officers. Each Mem-
ber of the Organization on its part undertakes to respect the exclusively
international character of the Director-General and the staff and not to seek
to influence them.

CHAPTER VIII – COMMITTEES

Article 38
The Board shall establish such committees as the Health Assembly may
direct and, on its own initiative or on the proposal of the Director-General,
may establish any other committees considered desirable to serve any pur-
pose within the competence of the Organization.
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 11

Article 39
The Board, from time to time and in any event annually, shall review the
necessity for continuing each committee.

Article 40
The Board may provide for the creation of or the participation by the
Organization in joint or mixed committees with other organizations and for
the representation of the Organization in committees established by such
other organizations.

CHAPTER IX – CONFERENCES
Article 41
The Health Assembly or the Board may convene local, general, techni-
cal or other special conferences to consider any matter within the compe-
tence of the Organization and may provide for the representation at such
conferences of international organizations and, with the consent of the
Government concerned, of national organizations, governmental or non-
governmental. The manner of such representation shall be determined by
the Health Assembly or the Board.

Article 42
The Board may provide for representation of the Organization at confer-
ences in which the Board considers that the Organization has an interest.

CHAPTER X – HEADQUARTERS
Article 43
The location of the headquarters of the Organization shall be determined
by the Health Assembly after consultation with the United Nations.

CHAPTER XI – REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Article 44
(a) The Health Assembly shall from time to time define the geographi-
cal areas in which it is desirable to establish a regional organization.
(b) The Health Assembly may, with the consent of a majority of the
Members situated within each area so defined, establish a regional organi-
zation to meet the special needs of such area. There shall not be more than
one regional organization in each area.
12 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

Article 45
Each regional organization shall be an integral part of the Organization
in accordance with this Constitution.

Article 46
Each regional organization shall consist of a regional committee and a
regional office.

Article 47
Regional committees shall be composed of representatives of the Mem-
ber States and Associate Members in the region concerned. Territories or
groups of territories within the region, which are not responsible for the
conduct of their international relations and which are not Associate Mem-
bers, shall have the right to be represented and to participate in regional
committees. The nature and extent of the rights and obligations of these ter-
ritories or groups of territories in regional committees shall be determined
by the Health Assembly in consultation with the Member or other authority
having responsibility for the international relations of these territories and
with the Member States in the region.

Article 48
Regional committees shall meet as often as necessary and shall deter-
mine the place of each meeting.

Article 49
Regional committees shall adopt their own rules of procedure.

Article 50
The functions of the regional committee shall be:
(a) to formulate policies governing matters of an exclusively regional char-
acter;
(b) to supervise the activities of the regional office;
(c) to suggest to the regional office the calling of technical conferences and
such additional work or investigation in health matters as in the opinion
of the regional committee would promote the objective of the Organiza-
tion within the region;
(d) to co-operate with the respective regional committees of the United
Nations and with those of other specialized agencies and with other
regional international organizations having interests in common with
the Organization;
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 13

(e) to tender advice, through the Director-General, to the Organization on

international health matters which have wider than regional signifi-
cance;
(f) to recommend additional regional appropriations by the Governments
of the respective regions if the proportion of the central budget of the
Organization allotted to that region is insufficient for the carrying-out
of the regional functions;
(g) such other functions as may be delegated to the regional committee by
the Health Assembly, the Board or the Director-General.

Article 51
Subject to the general authority of the Director-General of the Organiza-
tion, the regional office shall be the administrative organ of the regional
committee. It shall, in addition, carry out within the region the decisions of
the Health Assembly and of the Board.

Article 52
The head of the regional office shall be the Regional Director appointed
by the Board in agreement with the regional committee.

Article 53
The staff of the regional office shall be appointed in a manner to be
determined by agreement between the Director-General and the Regional
Director.
Article 54
The Pan American Sanitary Organization1 represented by the Pan
American Sanitary Bureau and the Pan American Sanitary Conferences,
and all other inter-governmental regional health organizations in existence
prior to the date of signature of this Constitution, shall in due course be
integrated with the Organization. This integration shall be effected as soon
as practicable through common action based on mutual consent of the
competent authorities expressed through the organizations concerned.

CHAPTER XII – BUDGET AND EXPENSES

Article 55
The Director-General shall prepare and submit to the Board the budget
estimates of the Organization. The Board shall consider and submit to the
Health Assembly such budget estimates, together with any recommenda-
tions the Board may deem advisable.
1
Renamed “Pan American Health Organization” by decision of the XV Pan American Sanitary Confe-
rence, September-October 1958.
14 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

Article 56
Subject to any agreement between the Organization and the United
Nations, the Health Assembly shall review and approve the budget esti-
mates and shall apportion the expenses among the Members in accordance
with a scale to be fixed by the Health Assembly.

Article 57
The Health Assembly or the Board acting on behalf of the Health
Assembly may accept and administer gifts and bequests made to the Organ-
ization provided that the conditions attached to such gifts or bequests are
acceptable to the Health Assembly or the Board and are consistent with the
objective and policies of the Organization.

Article 58
A special fund to be used at the discretion of the Board shall be estab-
lished to meet emergencies and unforeseen contingencies.

CHAPTER XIII – VOTING

Article 59
Each Member shall have one vote in the Health Assembly.

Article 60
(a) Decisions of the Health Assembly on important questions shall be
made by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting. These
questions shall include: the adoption of conventions or agreements; the
approval of agreements bringing the Organization into relation with the
United Nations and inter-governmental organizations and agencies in
accordance with Articles 69, 70 and 72; amendments to this Constitution.
(b) Decisions on other questions, including the determination of addi-
tional categories of questions to be decided by a two-thirds majority, shall
be made by a majority of the Members present and voting.
(c) Voting on analogous matters in the Board and in committees of the
Organization shall be made in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this Article.

CHAPTER XIV – REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES

Article 61
Each Member shall report annually to the Organization on the action
taken and progress achieved in improving the health of its people.
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 15

Article 62
Each Member shall report annually on the action taken with respect to
recommendations made to it by the Organization and with respect to con-
ventions, agreements and regulations.

Article 63
Each Member shall communicate promptly to the Organization impor-
tant laws, regulations, official reports and statistics pertaining to health
which have been published in the State concerned.

Article 64
Each Member shall provide statistical and epidemiological reports in a
manner to be determined by the Health Assembly.

Article 65
Each Member shall transmit upon the request of the Board such addi-
tional information pertaining to health as may be practicable.

CHAPTER XV – LEGAL CAPACITY, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

Article 66
The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each Member such legal
capacity as may be necessary for the fulfilment of its objective and for the
exercise of its functions.

Article 67
(a) The Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each Member such
privileges and immunities as may be necessary for the fulfilment of its
objective and for the exercise of its functions.
(b) Representatives of Members, persons designated to serve on the
Board and technical and administrative personnel of the Organization shall
similarly enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the
independent exercise of their functions in connexion with the Organization.

Article 68
Such legal capacity, privileges and immunities shall be defined in a sepa-
rate agreement to be prepared by the Organization in consultation with the
Secretary-General of the United Nations and concluded between the Mem-
bers.
16 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

CHAPTER XVI – RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Article 69

The Organization shall be brought into relation with the United Nations
as one of the specialized agencies referred to in Article 57 of the Charter of
the United Nations. The agreement or agreements bringing the Organiza-
tion into relation with the United Nations shall be subject to approval by a
two-thirds vote of the Health Assembly.

Article 70

The Organization shall establish effective relations and co-operate

closely with such other inter-governmental organizations as may be desira-
ble. Any formal agreement entered into with such organizations shall be
subject to approval by a two-thirds vote of the Health Assembly.

Article 71

The Organization may, on matters within its competence, make suitable

arrangements for consultation and co-operation with non-governmental
international organizations and, with the consent of the Government con-
cerned, with national organizations, governmental or non-governmental.

Article 72

Subject to the approval by a two-thirds vote of the Health Assembly, the

Organization may take over from any other international organization or
agency whose purpose and activities lie within the field of competence of
the Organization such functions, resources and obligations as may be con-
ferred upon the Organization by international agreement or by mutually
acceptable arrangements entered into between the competent authorities of
the respective organizations.

CHAPTER XVII – AMENDMENTS

Article 73

Texts of proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be communi-

cated by the Director-General to Members at least six months in advance of
their consideration by the Health Assembly. Amendments shall come into
force for all Members when adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Health
Assembly and accepted by two-thirds of the Members in accordance with
their respective constitutional processes.
 CONSTITUTION OF WHO 17

CHAPTER XVIII – INTERPRETATION

Article 74 1
The Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of this Consti-
tution shall be regarded as equally authentic.

Article 75
Any question or dispute concerning the interpretation or application of
this Constitution which is not settled by negotiation or by the Health
Assembly shall be referred to the International Court of Justice in conform-
ity with the Statute of the Court, unless the parties concerned agree on
another mode of settlement.
Article 76
Upon authorization by the General Assembly of the United Nations or
upon authorization in accordance with any agreement between the Organi-
zation and the United Nations, the Organization may request the Interna-
tional Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on any legal question arising
within the competence of the Organization.

Article 77
The Director-General may appear before the Court on behalf of the
Organization in connexion with any proceedings arising out of any such
request for an advisory opinion. He shall make arrangements for the pres-
entation of the case before the Court, including arrangements for the argu-
ment of different views on the question.

CHAPTER XIX – ENTRY-INTO-FORCE

Article 78
Subject to the provisions of Chapter III, this Constitution shall remain
open to all States for signature or acceptance.

Article 79
(a) States may become parties to this Constitution by:
(i) signature without reservation as to approval;
(ii) signature subject to approval followed by acceptance; or
(iii) acceptance.
1
The amendment to this Article adopted by the Thirty-first World Health Assembly (resolution
WHA31.18) has not yet come into force.
18 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006

(b) Acceptance shall be effected by the deposit of a formal instrument

with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 80
This Constitution shall come into force when twenty-six Members of the
United Nations have become parties to it in accordance with the provisions
of Article 79.
Article 81
In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, the
Secretary-General of the United Nations will register this Constitution
when it has been signed without reservation as to approval on behalf of one
State or upon deposit of the first instrument of acceptance.

Article 82
The Secretary-General of the United Nations will inform States parties
to this Constitution of the date when it has come into force. He will also
inform them of the dates when other States have become parties to this
Constitution.
IN FAITH WHEREOF the undersigned representatives, having been duly
authorized for that purpose, sign this Constitution.
DONE in the City of New York this twenty-second day of July 1946, in a
single copy in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish lan-
guages, each text being equally authentic. The original texts shall be depos-
ited in the archives of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the
United Nations will send certified copies to each of the Governments repre-
sented at the Conference.

__________
20 BASIC DOCUMENTS, Supplement 2006