The Convention was concluded through a formal procedure. The task of drafting a treaty involving numerous states and a complicated issue is often assigned to a body of government representatives set up by a UN agency or other international organisation. Meetings were organised and serviced by a Geneva-based secretariat. At the end of a treaty negotiation, ministers and other duly empowered representatives of the negotiating states formally express their collective consent to the draft text. The treaty is then considered to be adopted, although not yet legally binding.
Signature is generally the first step towards accepting a treaty.
It remained open for signature until 19 June 1993, by which time 165 states plus the EEC had signed. After signing, states must ratify the Convention in order to become parties . Ratifying can take time because many states must have treaties formally approved by parliament or some other legal body. They may also need to adjust their national laws to reflect their new treaty obligations. States that ratify a treaty accept it as binding and are obliged to implement it.