How to become a Party?
The 1954 Convention and its 1954 Protocol
Interested States should deposit an instrument of ratification (for signatory States) or an instrument of accession (for non-signatory States) with the Director-General of UNESCO. The same procedure should be followed to become party to the First Protocol.
The Second Protocol
Only High Contracting Parties to the 1954 Convention may become party to the Second Protocol. Interested States should deposit an instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approbation (for signatory States) or an instrument of accession (for non-signatory States) with the Director-General of UNESCO.
The Convention, the 1954 Protocol and the 1999 Protocol enter into force three months after the deposit of the relevant instrument. The one exception to this rule is that, in the case of international or non-international armed conflict, or in the case of occupation, these instruments enter into force immediately.