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Party Signature Ratification Status Party
01 Nov 1995 Accession 26 Dec 1996
27 Apr 2000 Accession 26 Jul 2000
14 Oct 1994 22 May 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996 Declarations
15 Jul 2002 Accession 13 Oct 2002
14 Oct 1994 30 Jun 1997 Ratification 28 Sep 1997
04 Apr 1995 06 Jun 1997 Ratification 04 Sep 1997
15 Oct 1994 06 Jan 1997 Ratification 06 Apr 1997
14 Oct 1994 02 Jul 1997 Ratification 30 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 15 May 2000 Ratification 13 Aug 2000
02 Jun 1997 Accession 31 Aug 1997 Declarations
10 Aug 1998 Accession 08 Nov 1998
10 Nov 2000 Accession 08 Feb 2001
14 Jul 1997 Accession 12 Oct 1997
14 Oct 1994 26 Jan 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 May 1997 Accession 12 Aug 1997
29 Aug 2001 Accession 27 Nov 2001
30 Jun 1997 Accession 28 Sep 1997
23 Jul 1998 Accession 21 Oct 1998
14 Oct 1994 29 Aug 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
20 Aug 2003 Accession 18 Nov 2003
14 Oct 1994 01 Aug 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
26 Aug 2002 Accession 24 Nov 2002
12 Oct 1995 11 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 25 Jun 1997 Ratification 23 Sep 1997
04 Dec 2002 Accession 04 Mar 2003
21 Feb 2001 Accession 22 May 2001
14 Oct 1994 26 Jan 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 06 Jan 1997 Ratification 06 Apr 1997
14 Oct 1994 08 May 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 18 Aug 1997 Ratification 16 Nov 1997
14 Oct 1994 29 May 1997 Ratification 27 Aug 1997
21 Dec 2016 Accession 21 Mar 2017 End notes
14 Oct 1994 05 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 27 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
03 Mar 1995 11 Nov 1997 Ratification 09 Feb 1998
14 Oct 1994 18 Feb 1997 Ratification 19 May 1997
14 Oct 1994 08 Jun 1999 Ratification 06 Sep 1999
14 Oct 1994 03 Mar 1998 Ratification 01 Jun 1998
15 Oct 1994 12 Jul 1999 Ratification 10 Oct 1999
21 Aug 1998 Accession 19 Nov 1998
15 Oct 1994 05 Jan 1998 Ratification 05 Apr 1998
15 Oct 1994 06 Oct 2000 Acceptance 04 Jan 2001
15 Oct 1994 13 Mar 1997 Ratification 11 Jun 1997
29 Mar 2000 Accession 27 Jun 2000
25 Jan 2000 Accession 24 Apr 2000
15 Oct 1994 04 Mar 1997 Ratification 02 Jun 1997
29 Dec 2003 Accession 28 Mar 2004
14 Oct 1994 12 Sep 1997 Ratification 11 Dec 1997
15 Oct 1994 22 Dec 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 12 Jun 1997 Ratification 10 Sep 1997
08 Dec 1997 Accession 08 Mar 1998
26 Jun 1997 Accession 24 Sep 1997
19 Jan 1995 06 Sep 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 07 Jul 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
27 Jun 1997 Accession 25 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 27 Jun 1997 Ratification 25 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 14 Aug 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
08 Feb 2012 Accession 08 May 2012 Declarations
27 Jul 1995 07 Oct 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 27 Jun 1997 Ratification 25 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 26 Mar 1998 Ratification 24 Jun 1998
26 Aug 1998 Accession 24 Nov 1998
15 Oct 1994 20 Sep 1995 Acceptance 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 12 Jun 1997 Ratification 10 Sep 1997
06 Sep 1996 Accession 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 23 Jul 1999 Ratification 21 Oct 1999
14 Oct 1994 10 Jul 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 27 Dec 1996 Ratification 27 Mar 1997
14 Oct 1994 05 May 1997 Ratification 03 Aug 1997
28 May 1997 Accession 26 Aug 1997
10 Sep 1998 Accession 09 Dec 1998 Declarations
14 Oct 1994 23 Jun 1997 Ratification 21 Sep 1997
15 Oct 1994 27 Oct 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
26 Jun 1997 Accession 24 Sep 1997
15 Oct 1994 25 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
22 Feb 1995 25 Jun 1997 Ratification 23 Sep 1997
13 Jul 1999 Accession 11 Oct 1999
03 Jun 1997 Accession 01 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 17 Dec 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 31 Aug 1998 Ratification 29 Nov 1998
14 Oct 1994 29 Apr 1997 Ratification 28 Jul 1997
28 May 2010 Accession 26 Aug 2010
15 Oct 1994 31 Jul 1997 Ratification 29 Oct 1997
14 Oct 1994 26 Mar 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 23 Jun 1997 Ratification 21 Sep 1997
12 Nov 1997 Accession 10 Feb 1998
14 Oct 1994 11 Sep 1998 Acceptance 10 Dec 1998
13 Apr 1995 21 Oct 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 09 Jul 1997 Ratification 07 Oct 1997
14 Oct 1994 24 Jun 1997 Ratification 22 Sep 1997
08 Sep 1998 Accession 07 Dec 1998
22 Sep 1995 27 Jun 1997 Ratification 25 Sep 1997 Declarations
19 Sep 1997 Accession 18 Dec 1997
30 Aug 1995 20 Sep 1996 Acceptance 26 Dec 1996
21 Oct 2002 Accession 19 Jan 2003
14 Oct 1994 16 May 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 12 Sep 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
02 Mar 1998 Accession 31 May 1998
15 Oct 1994 22 Jul 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
29 Dec 1999 Accession 28 Mar 2000
25 Jul 2003 Accession 23 Oct 2003
14 Oct 1994 04 Feb 1997 Ratification 05 May 1997
14 Oct 1994 25 Jun 1997 Ratification 23 Sep 1997
17 Jan 1995 13 Jun 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
06 Oct 1995 25 Jun 1997 Ratification 23 Sep 1997
03 Sep 2002 Accession 02 Dec 2002
15 Oct 1994 31 Oct 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 30 Jan 1998 Ratification 30 Apr 1998
02 Jun 1998 Accession 31 Aug 1998
14 Oct 1994 07 Aug 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
17 Mar 1995 23 Jan 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 03 Apr 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
12 Dec 1994 25 Mar 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
05 Mar 1999 Accession 03 Jun 1999
15 Oct 1994 03 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
04 Jun 2007 Accession 02 Sep 2007
15 Oct 1994 07 Nov 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
28 Sep 1995 13 Mar 1997 Ratification 11 Jun 1997
02 Jan 1997 Accession 02 Apr 1997
24 Oct 1994 16 May 1997 Ratification 14 Aug 1997
22 Sep 1998 Accession 21 Dec 1998
12 Oct 1995 15 Oct 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 27 Jun 1995 Acceptance 26 Dec 1996 Declarations
End notes
07 Sep 2000 Accession 06 Dec 2000 Declarations
End notes
21 Nov 1994 17 Feb 1998 Ratification 18 May 1998
14 Oct 1994 19 Jan 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
31 Oct 1994 08 Jul 1997 Ratification 06 Oct 1997
14 Aug 1998 Accession 12 Nov 1998
15 Oct 1994 30 Aug 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
23 Jul 1996 Accession 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 24 Feb 1997 Ratification 25 May 1997
15 Jun 1999 Accession 13 Sep 1999
22 Feb 1995 04 Apr 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
06 Dec 2000 Accession 06 Mar 2001
01 Dec 1994 15 Jan 1997 Ratification 15 Apr 1997
15 Oct 1994 09 Nov 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
08 Dec 1994 10 Feb 2000 Ratification 10 May 2000
14 Nov 2001 Accession 12 Feb 2002
14 Oct 1994 01 Apr 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Mar 1999 Accession 13 Jun 1999
14 Oct 1994 17 Aug 1999 Ratification 15 Nov 1999
10 Mar 1999 Accession 08 Jun 1999
19 Aug 1998 Accession 17 Nov 1998
29 May 2003 Accession 27 Aug 2003
22 Jun 1995 22 Oct 1998 Ratification 20 Jan 1999
30 Jun 1997 Accession 28 Sep 1997
02 Jul 1997 Accession 30 Sep 1997
15 Oct 1994 16 Mar 1998 Ratification 14 Jun 1998
21 Aug 1998 Accession 19 Nov 1998
23 Jul 1999 Accession 21 Oct 1999
04 Oct 1995 08 Jul 1998 Ratification 06 Oct 1998
25 Jun 1997 Accession 23 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 26 Jul 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
18 Dec 2007 Accession 17 Mar 2008
14 Oct 1994 26 Jun 1997 Ratification 24 Sep 1997
11 Nov 1994 25 Sep 1997 Ratification 24 Dec 1997
26 Apr 1999 Accession 25 Jul 1999
07 Jan 2002 Accession 07 Apr 2002
28 Jun 2001 Accession 26 Sep 2001
16 Apr 1999 Accession 15 Jul 1999
24 Jul 2002 Accession 22 Oct 2002
09 Jan 1995 30 Sep 1997 Ratification 29 Dec 1997
17 Feb 2014 Accession 18 May 2014
14 Oct 1994 30 Jan 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
09 Dec 1998 Accession 09 Mar 1999
29 Dec 2017 Accession 29 Mar 2018
15 Oct 1994 24 Nov 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
01 Jun 2000 Accession 30 Aug 2000
15 Oct 1994 12 Dec 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 19 Jan 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 10 Jun 1997 Ratification 08 Sep 1997
16 Jul 1997 Accession 14 Oct 1997
07 Mar 2001 Accession 05 Jun 2001
14 Oct 1994 11 Jun 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
06 Mar 2002 Accession 04 Jun 2002
20 Aug 2003 Accession 18 Nov 2003
15 Oct 1994 04 Oct 1995 Acceptance 26 Dec 1996
25 Sep 1998 Accession 24 Dec 1998
08 Jun 2000 Accession 06 Sep 2000
14 Oct 1994 11 Oct 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Oct 1994 31 Mar 1998 Ratification 29 Jun 1998
27 Mar 1995 18 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
14 Sep 1998 Accession 13 Dec 1998
21 Nov 1994 25 Jun 1997 Ratification 23 Sep 1997
27 Aug 2002 Accession 25 Nov 2002
21 Oct 1998 Accession 19 Jan 1999
14 Oct 1994 18 Oct 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996 End notes
14 Oct 1994 19 Jun 1997 Ratification 17 Sep 1997
14 Oct 1994 17 Nov 2000 Ratification 15 Feb 2001 Declarations
17 Feb 1999 Accession 18 May 1999
07 Dec 1994 31 Oct 1995 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
28 Sep 1995 10 Aug 1999 Ratification 08 Nov 1999
29 Jun 1998 Accession 27 Sep 1998
25 Aug 1998 Accession 23 Nov 1998
14 Jan 1997 Accession 14 Apr 1997
15 Oct 1994 19 Sep 1996 Ratification 26 Dec 1996
15 Oct 1994 23 Sep 1997 Ratification 22 Dec 1997

Declarations

Declaration:The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 28, paragraph 2, of the [said Convention], to the effect that any dispute must be submitted to the International Court of Justice.The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria declares that for a dispute submitted to the International Court of Justice, the consent of both parties will be necessary in each case.
Declaration:"The Republic of Austria declares in accordance with article 28 of the Convention that it accepts both of the means of dispute in paragraph 2 as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting an obligation concerning one or both of these means of dispute settlement."
Declaration: “In accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 34 of the Convention, any additional regional implementation annex or an amendment to any regional implementation annex shall enter into force with respect to the Republic of Estonia only upon the deposit of its instrument of approval of such annex or amendment with the Depositary.”
Declaration:The Republic of Guatemala declares that, in respect of any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes arbitration in accordance with procedures adopted by the Conference of the Parties in an annex as soon as practicable as a means of dispute settlement, compulsory in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation. This declaration shall remain in force until three months after written notice of its revocation has been deposited with the Depositary.
Declaration:With respect to the State of Kuwait, any additional regional implementation annex or any amendment to any regional implementation annex shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession with respect thereto.
Declaration:"The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares, in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 28 of [the said Convention] that it accepts both means of dispute settlement referred to in that paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting one or both of these means of dispute settlement."
Declaration:“Any additional regional implementation annex or any amendment to any regional implementation annex to the Convention shall enter into force for New Zealand only upon the Government of New Zealand’s deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.”
Understandings:" (1) Foreign assistance.-- The United States understands that, as a "developed country," pursuant to Article 6 of the Convention and its Annexes, it is not obligated to satisfy specific funding requirements or other specific requirements regarding the provision of any resource, including technology, to any "affected country," as defined in Article 1 of the Convention. The United States understands that ratification of the Convention does not alter its domestic legal processes to determine foreign assistance funding or programs.(2) Financial resources and mechanism.-- The United States understands that neither Article 20 nor Article 21 of the Convention impose obligations to provide specific levels of funding for the Global Environmental Facility, or the Global Mechanism, to carry out the objectives of the Convention, or for any other purpose.(3) United States land management.-- The United States understands that it is a "developed country party" as defined in Article 1 of the Convention, and that it is not required to prepare a national action program pursuant to Part III, Section 1, of the Convention. The United States also understands that no changes to its existing land management practices and programs will be required to meet its obligations under Articles 4 or 5 of the Convention.(4) Legal process for amending the Convention.-- In accordance with Article 34 (4), any additional regional implementation annex to the Convention or any amendment to any regional implementation annex to the Convention shall enter into force for the United States only upon the deposit of a corresponding instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.(5) Dispute settlement.-- The United States declines to accept as compulsory either of the dispute settlement means set out in Article 28(2), and understands that it will not be bound by the outcome, findings, conclusions or recommendations of a conciliation process initiated under Article 28 (6). For any dispute arising from this Convention, the United States does not recognize or accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice."

End Notes

Canada had signed the Convention on 14 October 1994 and had ratified it subsequently on 1 December 1995. Thereafter, on 28 March 2013, in accordance with its article 38 (2), the Government of Canada had notified the Secretary-General of its decision to withdraw from the Convention. The withdrawal took effect on 28 March 2014.

On 21 December 2016, Canada deposited with the Secretary-General an instrument of accession to the Convention.

For the Kingdom in Europe.

With a declaration to the effect that “consistent with the constitutional status of Tokelau and taking into account its commitment to the development of self-government through an act of sef-determination under the Charter of the United Nations, this ratification shall not extend to Tokelau unless and until a Declaration to this effect is lodged by the Government of New Zealand with the Depositary on the basis of appropriate consultation with that territory.”

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , the British Virgin Islands, St. Helena and Ascension Island. Subsequently, on 24 December 1996, the Government of the United Kingdom notified the Secretary-General that the Convention would apply to Montserrat.