unlike ratification, which must be preceded by signature to create binding legal obligations under international law, accession requires only one step, namely, the deposit of an instrument of accession. The conditions under which accession may occur and the procedure involved depend on the provisions of the treaty. Accession is generally used by States wishing to express their consent to be bound by a treaty for which the deadline for signature has passed. However, many modern multilateral treaties provide for accession even when the treaty remains open for signature. Succession Succession takes place only if a State, which is a party to a treaty, has undergone a major constitutional transformation which raises some doubt as to whether the original expression of consent to be bound is still valid. Such circumstances may include independence (for example, through decolonization), dissolution of a federation or union, and secession of a State or entity from a State or federation. The successor State may ratify or accede to the treaty in its own capacity or, alternatively, it may express its consent to continue to be bound by the legal obligations assumed by the original State party with respect to the same territory through an act of succession. In such cases, the State will notify the Why is the date of entry into United Nations Secretary-General force important? of its intention to succeed to the legal obligations. It is the date on which the rights set out in the treaty become binding on the State in international law. Anyone wishing to bring a complaint against a State party before a treaty body under the terms of a treaty or optional protocol needs to make sure that the treaty or optional protocol has entered into force for that State. This date also determines when State parties must submit reports to the treaty bodies. Distinction between ratification/accession and entry into force The act by which a State (or, for some treaties, also a regional integration organization, such as the European Union) expresses its consent to be bound by a treaty is distinct from the treaty’s entry into force. A State demonstrates its willingness to undertake the legal rights and obligations under a treaty through the deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. Entry into force of a treaty with regard to a How do I find out whether a treaty is in force for a particular State? The definitive source is the United Nations Treaty Section, which maintains a register of multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General. Its website is http://untreaty.un.org. 60