As such, the Convention cannot be completely disregarded by any country. The draft provides that the Convention shall be open for signature by all States. This is a formality, but nevertheless an important one, since it constitutes a very general preliminary endorsement of the Convention. However, signature by a State does not in any way commit it to proceed to the next, and final, step of ratification. It does qualify the State to ratify, and, in accordance with article 18 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, creates an obligation of good faith to refrain from acts calculated to frustrate the goals of the Convention.
Ratification consists of two steps.
The second is for the Government to deposit an instrument of ratification with the UN Secretary-General. If the Convention has already entered into force at that time, the State will be bound by the Convention as from the 30th day after ratification. Accession is essentially just another word for ratification, except that it is not preceded by any act of signature. Entry into force. In general terms, any form of intentional agreement that formally creates legal obligations for the parties thereto is considered a treaty.