Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, usually called the CTBT, is a multilateral treaty that bans nuclear explosions. The United Nations General Assembly adopted it on 10 September 1996 by resolution A/RES/50/245, as contained in document A/50/1027, and asked the Secretary-General, as depositary, to open it for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York. It was opened for signature on 24 September 1996 and remains open for signature until its entry into force. The treaty has not yet entered into force. Under article XIV it will enter into force 180 days after all the states listed in its Annex 2 have deposited instruments of ratification, and in no case earlier than two years after opening for signature. If it has not entered into force three years after the anniversary of its opening for signature, the depositary convenes a conference of ratifying states, at their request, to consider measures that may facilitate early entry into force, and that process repeats at later anniversaries. For states that ratify after entry into force, it applies on the thirtieth day after deposit.