What are accession and atification?
Articles 47 and 48 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child state that a country can become a state party to it either by ratification or accession. Both of these acts signify an agreement to be legally bound by the terms of the Convention. The distinction refers to two different procedures to becoming a state party and is essentially irrelevant. Accession has exactly the same effects as ratification. Most commonly, a country in favour of a convention signs shortly after it has been adopted and follows up with ratification when all procedures required by domestic law have been fulfilled. Countries that have not signed can become states parties through accession to the Convention.
