Activities of the Holy See within the United Nations system

The activities of the Holy See within the United Nations system officially began on April 6, 1964, when the Holy See

Holy See

The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...

was granted the status of permanent observer state. In that capacity, it has since had a standing invitation to attend all sessions of the United Nations General Assembly

United Nations General Assembly

For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...

, the United Nations Security Council

United Nations Security Council

The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...

, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council

United Nations Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...

to observe their work. Accordingly, the Holy See has established permanent observer missions in New York

Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations

The Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations is the representative of the Holy See at the United Nations. The diplomatic mission does not have full ambassador status and thus cannot vote — a decision it has freely taken...

and in Geneva

Permanent Observer of Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva

The Permanent Observer of Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva is the representative of the Pope and the Catholic Church to the European office of the United Nations — in Geneva, Switzerland...

and has been able to influence the decisions and recommendations of the United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

Relationship with the League of Nations

During a 1919 conference at the League of Nations

League of Nations

The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...

, a motion was proposed to encourage international cooperation with the Holy See. The motion, encouraged by delegations in Belgium and Switzerland, was adopted by a majority of participants, although it met resistance from the United Kingdom and Italy. Reports indicated that the Holy See regretted its exclusion and wished to be admitted in the League of Nations.

In 1923 however, the Holy See took a different position and stated that its only competency was in matters of elucidation of questions of principle in morality and public international law. In 1924, the Holy See received an invitation from a British delegate to become a member of the League, but this proposition received no official reaction from other member States.

Non-participation between 1944 and 1964

In 1944, the Holy See made tentative enquiries about the possibility of becoming a UN Member. US Secretary of State

United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...

Cordell Hull

Cordell Hull was an American politician from the U.S. state of Tennessee. He is best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during much of World War II...

replied that:

It should be noted, first, that Secretary Hull did not distinguish between the Holy See and the Vatican City State; and, second, that, at the time, membership in the United Nations was still limited to the Allies of World War II

Allies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...

.
Neither the Holy See nor the Vatican City State chose to apply for UN membership at that time.

Permanent observer since 1964

Since April 6, 1964, the Holy See has been a permanent observer state at the United Nations

United Nations

. In that capacity, the Holy See has since had a standing invitation to attend all the sessions of the General Assembly

United Nations General Assembly

, the United Nations Security Council

United Nations Security Council

, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council

United Nations Economic and Social Council

to observe their work, and to maintain a permanent observer mission at the UN headquarters in New York. Accordingly, the Holy See has established a Permanent Observer Mission in New York

Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations

and has sent representatives to all open meetings of the General Assembly and of its Main Committees.

As a matter of diplomatic courtesy, since 1964, the Holy See was also allowed to make formal policy statements in the General Assembly, both during the General Debates and during the discussion of the various separate issues contained in the agenda of the General Assembly. Notably, Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI were invited to address the General Assembly.

In addition, the Holy See was invited to observe all open meetings of the intergovernmental subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly. The Holy See was frequently allowed to participate in the private negotiations leading to the adoption of the General Assembly's decisions and resolutions. The Holy See was not allowed, however, to co-sponsor draft decisions or resolutions, to make points of order or to excersise the right of reply. If the Holy See wished to circulate written proposals or position papers, it required the assistance of a member state that was willing to present those proposals or papers as its own.

The Holy See took advantage the prerogatives of its observer status to incorporate its interpretation of Christian values

Christian values

The term Christian values historically refers to the values found in the teachings of Jesus.The biblical teachings of Jesus include:* love of God: "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" ,...

within the decisions and recommendations of the United Nations. Notable were its successful efforts, in cooperation with like-minded countries, to ensure the adoption of a United Nations Declaration banning all forms of Human Cloning and to prevent the adoption of a proposed resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity.

See Change campaign

From 1999, the non-governmental organization

Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

, Catholics for Choice, lobbied against the participation of the Holy See in the United Nations. Supporters of this campaign argued that the Holy See is a religious organization and not a state, and that, therefore, it should not have the right to participate, in a position analogous to that of states, in the intergovernmental decision-making process on social, cultural and economic matters. They also cited the lack of equal status for other religions and the Vatican representatives' history of pushing conservative Catholic views on reproductive health.

Confirmed status in 2004

In 2004, the UN General Assembly confirmed the Vatican's status as a Permanent Observer. Currently, the Holy See has the right to participate in the general debate of the General Assembly and to intervene in the discussion of any issue inscribed in the agenda of that assembly. It has the right to participate in all meetings open to all Member States, the right to make points of order and to exercise the right of reply, the right to circulate proposals and position papers as official documents, and the right to co-sponsor draft resolutions and decisions. Commenting on that resolution, Archbishop Celestino Migliore

Celestino Migliore

Celestino Migliore is an Italian Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church who currently serves as the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland. He had previously served as...

, the then Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations, said "We have no vote because this is our choice." He added that the Holy See considers that its current status "is a fundamental step that does not close any path for the future. The Holy See has the requirements defined by the UN statute to be a member state and, if in the future it wished to be so, this resolution would not impede it from requesting it."

At the United Nations Economic and Social Council

The Holy See is also an observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council

United Nations Economic and Social Council

(ECOSOC), attending all of its meetings and it is able to make proposals and policy statements regarding of all issues that are of its concern. Since 22 July 1977, the Holy See has had a standing invitation to attend the sessions of ECOSOC's regional commissions on an equal footing with those State Members of the United Nations who are not members of those regional commissions. In addition, the Holy See enjoys full membership in some specialized agencies of the United Nations dependent on ECOSOC such as WIPO

World Intellectual Property Organization

The World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world"....

, ITU

International Telecommunication Union

The International Telecommunication Union is the specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for information and communication technologies...

, and UPU

Universal Postal Union

The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...

. In order to follow the work of those ECOSOC subsidiary bodies and agencies that meet regularly in Geneva, the Holy See has established a Permanent Observer Mission in Geneva

Permanent Observer of Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva

The Permanent Observer of Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva is the representative of the Pope and the Catholic Church to the European office of the United Nations — in Geneva, Switzerland...

At the United Nations Security Council

Having observer status at the United Nations, the Holy See is also able to observe all open meetings of the United Nations Security Council

United Nations Security Council

. Occasionally, the Holy See has asked to, and has been allowed to made statements in public meetings of the Security Council. The Permanent Observer has spoken on the Iraq-Kuwait conflict

Invasion of Kuwait

The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the seven-month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, which subsequently led to direct military intervention by United States-led forces in the Gulf...

, on the regulation of armaments, and on the protection of civilians during armed conflicts. On some occasions, the Holy See has submitted documents to the Security Council, such as the April 29, 2003 statement of Patriarchs and Bishops of Iraq on religious freedom.

At the world conferences on social and economic issues

The Holy See has also been an active participant in the World Conferences on social and economic issues convened by the United Nations. The Holy See had a major impact on the negotiations and outcome of the 1994 Cairo Population Conference

International Conference on Population and Development

The United Nations coordinated an International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt from 5–13 September 1994. Its resulting Program of Action is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund ....

, the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women

Fourth World Conference on Women

The United Nations convened the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace on 4-15 September 1995 in Beijing, China. 189 governments and more than 5,000 representatives from 2,100 non-governmental organizations participated in the Conference...

, and the 2001 General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.

Negotatiation of multilateral treaties

Since the Holy See is legally capable of ratifying international treaties, and does ratify them, it is invited to participate - on equal footing with States - in the negotiation of most universal International law

International law

Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...

-making treaties

Treaty

A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...

held under the auspices of the United Nations. Being a negotiating party, it is able to make substantive proposals, reject the proposals of other negotiating parties, request a vote, and even vote. The Holy See has participated actively in the negotiation of the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court . It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. As of 13 October 2011, 119 states are party to the statute...

, the 1997 Terrorist Bombing Convention, and the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights instrument of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities...

, among others.

Participation in multilateral treaties

The Holy See is a state-party to numerous multilateral treaties:

Treaty	Date of signature	Date of ratification Ratification Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the... , accession Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties is a treaty concerning the international law on treaties between states. It was adopted on 22 May 1969 and opened for signature on 23 May 1969. The Convention entered into force on 27 January 1980. The VCLT has been ratified by 111 states as of November... or acceptance
1864 Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field First Geneva Convention The First Geneva Convention, for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, is one of four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It defines "the basis on which rest the rules of international law for the protection of the victims of armed conflicts." It was first adopted...		9 May 1868
1883 Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, signed in Paris, France, on March 20, 1883, was one of the first intellectual property treaties. It established a Union for the protection of industrial property...		21 Jul 1960
1886 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, usually known as the Berne Convention, is an international agreement governing copyright, which was first accepted in Berne, Switzerland in 1886.- Content :...		19 Jul 1935
1925 Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare		18 Oct 1966
1936 International Convention concerning the Use of Broadcasting in the Cause of Peace		5 Jan 1967
1949 First Geneva Convention First Geneva Convention The First Geneva Convention, for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, is one of four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It defines "the basis on which rest the rules of international law for the protection of the victims of armed conflicts." It was first adopted... for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field	08 Dec 1949	22 Feb 1951
1949 Second Geneva Convention Second Geneva Convention The Second Geneva Convention, for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was first adopted in 1906, after the Russo-Japanese war, but was significantly updated in 1929 and again in... for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea	08 Dec 1949	22 Feb 1951
1949 Third Geneva Convention Third Geneva Convention The Third Geneva Convention, relative to the treatment of prisoners of war, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was first adopted in 1929, but was significantly updated in 1949... relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War	08 Dec 1949	22 Feb 1951
1949 Fourth Geneva Convention Fourth Geneva Convention The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, commonly referred to as the Fourth Geneva Convention and abbreviated as GCIV, is one of the four treaties of the Geneva Conventions. It was adopted in August 1949, and defines humanitarian protections for civilians... relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War	08 Dec 1949	22 Feb 1951
1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals		1 Oct 1956
1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is an international treaty that requires its signatories to protect cultural property in war. It was signed at The Hague, Netherlands, on May 14, 1954, and entered into force August 7, 1956...		24 Feb 1958
1954 Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict		24 Feb 1958
1955 Agreement on Signs for Road Works, amending the European Agreement of 16 September 1950 supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic and the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals		1 Oct 1956
1956 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees The United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees is an international convention that defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. The Convention also sets out which people do not...	21 May 1952	15 Mar 1956
1956 Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance Payments	20 Jun 1956	5 Oct 1964
1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards The Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Convention, was adopted by a United Nations diplomatic conference on 10 June 1958 and entered into force on 7 June 1959...		14 May 1975
1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 is an international treaty to prohibit production and supply of specific drugs and of drugs with similar effects except under licence for specific purposes, such as medical treatment and research... , as amended by the 1975 Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs		7 Jan 1976
1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations Vienna Convention on Consular Relations The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 is an international treaty that defines a framework for consular relations between independent countries...	24 Apr 1963	8 Oct 1970
1966 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is a United Nations convention. A second-generation human rights instrument, the Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races...	21 Nov 1966	1 May 1969
1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees The Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees entered into force on October 4, 1967. Where the United Nations 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees had restricted refugee status to those whose circumstances had come about "as a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951", as...		8 Jun 1967
1967 Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization The Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization, or WIPO Convention, was signed at Stockholm, Sweden, on July 14, 1967 and entered into force on April 26, 1970. As its name suggests, it established the World Intellectual Property Organization . WIPO Convention has 184...	14 Jul 14 1967	20 Jan 1975
1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to...		25 Feb 1971
1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties is a treaty concerning the international law on treaties between states. It was adopted on 22 May 1969 and opened for signature on 23 May 1969. The Convention entered into force on 27 January 1980. The VCLT has been ratified by 111 states as of November...	30 Sep 1969	25 Feb 1977
1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances Convention on Psychotropic Substances The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 is a United Nations treaty designed to control psychoactive drugs such as amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and psychedelics signed at Vienna on February 21, 1971...	21 Feb 1971	7 Jan 1976
1971 Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms	29 Oct 1971	4 Apr 1977
1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs The 1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was a protocol that made several changes to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs...	25 Mar 1972	7 Jan 1976
1972 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (Biological Weapons Convention Biological Weapons Convention The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the... )		04 Jan 2002
1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage		07 Oct 1982
1976 Protocol to the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials of 22 November 1950		22 Feb 1980
1977 Protocol I Protocol I Protocol I is a 1977 amendment protocol to the Geneva Conventions relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts. It reaffirms the international laws of the original Geneva Conventions of 1949, but adds clarifications and new provisions to accommodate developments in modern... relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts	12 Dec 1977	21 Nov 1985
1977 Protocol II Protocol II Protocol II is a 1977 amendment protocol to the Geneva Conventions relating to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts. It defines certain international laws that strive to provide better protection for victims of internal armed conflicts that take place within the borders... relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts	12 Dec 1977	21 Nov 1985
1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons The United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons , concluded at Geneva on October 10, 1980 and entered into force in December 1983, seeks to prohibit or restrict the use of certain conventional weapons which are considered excessively injurious or whose effects are indiscriminate.The... )		22 Jul 1997
1980 Protocol I to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on Non-Detectable Fragments		22 Jul 1997
1980 Protocol II to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices		22 Jul 1997
1980 Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weaponson Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons		22 Jul 1997
1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...	20 Apr 1990	20 Apr 1990
1990 Amendment to the Montreal Protocol Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion... on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer		5 May 2008
1992 Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction	14 Jan 1993	12 May 1999
1992 Amendment to the Montreal Protocol Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion... on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer		5 May 2008
1992 Amendment to article 8 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is a United Nations convention. A second-generation human rights instrument, the Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races...		14 Mar 2002
1993 Convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention Chemical Weapons Convention The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction... )	14 Jan 1993	12 May 1999
1993 Amemdments to the 1980 Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons		22 Jul 1997
1995 Amendment to article 43 (2) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...		15 Aug 1996
1995 Protocol IV on Blinding Laser Weapons to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects		22 Jul 1997
1995 Grains Trade Convention	20 Jun 1995	28 Jun 1995
1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty	24 Sep 1996	18 Jul 2001
1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction	4 Dec 1997	17 Feb 1998
2000 Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Annex I of a resolution on 25 May 2000.The protocol came into force on 12 February 2002....	10 Oct 2000	24 Oct 2001
2000 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography	10 Oct 2000	24 Oct 2001
2003 Protocol to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects on Explosive Remnants of War		13 Dec 2005
2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions Convention on Cluster Munitions The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer and stockpile of cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters submunitions over an area. The convention was adopted on 2008 in Dublin, and was opened for signature on 2008 in Oslo...	3 Dec 2008	3 Dec 2008

Relationship with the League of Nations

Non-participation between 1944 and 1964

Permanent observer since 1964

See Change campaign

Confirmed status in 2004

At the United Nations Economic and Social Council

At the United Nations Security Council

At the world conferences on social and economic issues

Negotatiation of multilateral treaties

Participation in multilateral treaties

See also