The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty cannot enter into force until all 44 Annex 2 States ratify it

Background

The United Nations General Assembly, by resolution A/RES/50/245, adopted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his capacity as Depositary of the Treaty, to open it for signature at the earliest possible date. The Treaty was opened for signature in September 1996. In accordance with Article XIV of the Treaty, it will enter into force only after all 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty have ratified it. The United Nations lists the Annex-2 States that have ratified the Treaty, and records that the Secretary-General has appealed to all remaining States whose ratifications are required for the Treaty to enter into force to accelerate the completion of their ratification processes. Article XIV also states that if the Treaty has not entered into force three years after the date of the anniversary of its opening for signature, a conference may be held upon the request of a majority of ratifying States, to examine to what extent the requirements for entry into force have been met and to decide on measures to accelerate the ratification process. The Treaty was negotiated in the Conference on Disarmament, which had established a subsidiary body on a test ban in 1982, and a final draft was presented to that Conference in June 1996.