Summary of Conventions

Signatories

Country	Status	Year
Afghanistan	ratified	23-Apr-1973
Argentina	ratified	21-Mar-1983
Australia	ratified	23-Jan-1973
Austria	ratified	10-Aug-1972
Belgium	ratified	20-Nov-1972
Bolivia	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Brazil	ratified	10-May-1988
Bulgaria	ratified	26-May-1971
Myanmar	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Canada	ratified	17-May-1972
China	ratified	28-Feb-1991
Cyprus	ratified	17-Nov-1971
Benin	ratified	02-Jul-1986
Denmark	ratified	15-Jun-1971
Ethiopia	ratified	12-Jul-1977
Finland	ratified	08-Jun-1971
Gambia	ratified	18-May-1971
Germany, Fed. Rep.	ratified	18-Nov-1975
Ghana	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Greece	ratified	28-May-1985
Hungary	ratified	13-Aug-1971
Iceland	ratified	30-May-1972
India	ratified	20-Jul-1973
Iran, Islamic R. of	ratified	26-Aug-1971
Ireland	ratified	19-Aug-1971
Italy	ratified	03-Sep-1974
Jamaica	ratified	30-Jul-1986
Japan	ratified	21-Jun-1971
Jordan	ratified	01-Nov-1971
Korea, D.P.R. of	ratified	25-Jun-1987
Lao P.D.R.	ratified	19-Oct-1971
Lebanon	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Liechtenstein	ratified	30-May-1991
Luxembourg	ratified	11-Nov-1982
Malaysia	ratified	21-Jun-1972
Malta	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Mauritius	ratified	03-May-1971
Mexico	ratified	23-Mar-1984
Mongolia	ratified	15-Nov-1971
Morocco	ratified	26-Jul-1971
Nepal	ratified	06-Jul-1971
Netherlands	ratified	14-Jan-1976
New Zealand	ratified	24-Feb-1972
Norway	ratified	28-Jun-1971
Micronesia, Fed. States of	ratified	09-Oct-1972
Philippines	ratified	05-Nov-1993
Poland	ratified	15-Nov-1971
Portugal	ratified	24-Jun-1975
Qatar	ratified	12-Nov-1974
Romania	ratified	10-Jul-1972
Russian Federation	ratified	18-May-1972
Rwanda	ratified	20-May-1975
Seychelles	ratified	12-Mar-1985
Sierra Leone	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Singapore	ratified	10-Sep-1976
South Africa	ratified	26-Nov-1973
Spain	ratified	15-Jul-1987
Sudan	ratified	11-Feb-1971
Sweden	ratified	28-Apr-1972
Switzerland	ratified	04-May-1976
Tunisia	ratified	28-Oct-1971
Turkey	ratified	25-Oct-1972
Latvia	ratified	24-Jun-1992
United Kingdom	ratified	18-May-1972
USA (contiguous states)	ratified	18-May-1972
Yugoslavia, SFR of (former)	ratified	25-Oct-1973
Zambia	ratified	09-Oct-1972

Language
Chinese
English
French
Russian
Spanish

Document text

	
	Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof, 955 

U.N.T.S. 115, entered into force May 18, 1972.

Objective

To exclude the sea-bed, the ocean floor and the subsoil thereof from the arms race as a step towards disarmament, the reduction of international tensions and the maintenance of world peace.

Provisions

     (a) Parties undertake not to place on the sea-bed, on the ocean floor or in the subsoil thereof, nuclear
     weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, or structures for launching, storing, testing or using such
     weapons (art. 1),

     (b) Outer limit of the sea-bed zone to be the 12 mile limit referred to in the Convention on the Territorial Sea
     and the Contiguous Zone, 1958 (art. 2);

     (c) Observers from any party may observe and verify the activities of any other party on the sea-bed. In
     case of doubt parties shall consult and co-operate to remove such doubt by means of inspection and any
     other agreed procedures. If a serious question still remains concerning fulfillment of the obligations under the
     Treaty, a party may refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council (art. 3). 

Membership

Open to all States for signature subject to ratification, or for accession. Instruments of ratification or accession to be
deposited with the depositary Governments.

Date of adoption 11. 2. 1971

Places of adoption London, Moscow, Washington

Date of entry into force 18. 5. 1972

Languages Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish

Depositaries Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United  States of America

Short Name:
Full Name:	Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof
Purpose:	environment
Established:	11-Feb-1971
Entered into force:	18-May-1972
Type:	treaty, multi-lateral
Place where established:	London, UK
Schedule to expire:
Goals and Objectives:	To exclude the sea-bed, the ocean floor and the subsoil thereof from the arms race as a step towards disarmament, the reduction of international tensions and the maintenance of world peace.
Related Legislation:
Internet source:

Secretariat's address
Telephone
Fax
E-Mail
Home Page