Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses

Quick Facts: Who was Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses?

Subject:

Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses

Known for:

A 1973 multilateral treaty setting international rules for transporting human remains.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses is a 1973 multilateral treaty whereby states agree to rules for the transport of human corpses across international borders. It is a treaty of the Council of Europe and as of 2013 has only been ratified by European states, but it is open to ratification by any state in the world. The Agreement was intended to replace and simplify the requirements of the 1937 International Convention on the Transport of Corpses.

Career & Major Achievements

The Agreement mandates that every corpse being transported across international borders shall be accompanied by a laissez-passer document issued by the state in which the transport begins. Transport may only be made in an impervious coffin that contains only the corpse and such personal effects as are to be buried or cremated with the corpse. If the person died of an infectious disease, the corpse must be wrapped in material that has been impregnated with an antiseptic solution.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Agreement also establishes the minimal standards for the coffins used for transporting corpses across international borders. The Agreement does not apply to the transport of cremation ashes.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1937: 1937 Milestone — The Agreement was intended to replace and simplify the requirements of the 1937 International Convention on the Transport of Corpses.
2. 1973: 1973 Milestone — The Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses is a 1973 multilateral treaty whereby states agree to rules for the transport of human corpses across international borders.
3. 2013: 2013 Milestone — It is a treaty of the Council of Europe and as of 2013 has only been ratified by European states, but it is open to ratification by any state in the world.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses

True or False: “True or False: The Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses applies to the transport of cremation ashes.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Agreement explicitly states that it does not apply to the transport of cremation ashes, focusing only on the physical corpse.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. S. Neill — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• Ada Louise Huxtable — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering American architecture critic who elevated urban design to public discourse.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.
• Alain Badiou — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Influential French philosopher known for 'Being and Event' and universalism.

Frequently Asked Questions about Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses