How does a country join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and what must it do to comply with it?

The Convention on Cluster Munitions opened for signature in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008. Until its entry into force, it was open for signature at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. It entered into force on 1 August 2010, six months after the 30th country ratified it.

Before the convention entered into force, states could join by carrying out two steps: signing and then ratifying the treaty. Since the treaty has entered into force, the treaty is no longer open for new signatures. Those that had already signed can still ratify it. States that have not signed are able to join the treaty by carrying out a one-step process called accession.