Objectives
 

                    The Treaty has the purpose of attracting the adherence of all States and the objective of contributing effectively to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, to the process of nuclear disarmament and therefore to the enhancement of international peace and security.
 

                Key Provisions
 

                    Each State party undertakes not to carry out any nuclear-weapon-test explosion or any other nuclear explosion and to prohibit and prevent any such nuclear explosion at any place under its jurisdiction or control. Each party also undertakes "to refrain from causing, encouraging, or in any way participating in the carrying out of any nuclear-weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosion".
 

                    The States parties establish the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), with its seat in Vienna, to ensure the implementation of the Treaty's provisions, including verification of compliance, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States parties. The CTBTO's organs are the Conference of the States parties, the Executive Council and the Technical Secretariat, which includes the International Data Centre.
 

                    Other key articles deal with national implementation measures; verification (including the International Monitoring System comprising facilities for seismological, radionuclide, hydroacoustic and infrasound monitoring); measures to redress a situation and to ensure compliance, and settlement of disputes.
 

                    A three-part Protocol deals with the International Monitoring System and International Data Centre functions; on-site inspections; and confidence-building measures, with two annexes.
 
 
 

Entry into force: Not yet entered into force (the Treaty will enter into force 180 days after the 44 States listed in annex 2 to the Treaty have deposited their instruments of ratification with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. This list comprises the States that formally participated in the 1996 session of the Conference on Disarmament and that appear in table 1 of the December 1995 edition of "Nuclear Research Reactors in the World" and table 1 of the April 1996 edition of "Nuclear Power Reactors in the World", both compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency) Status as at 15 June 2000:  Signatories: 155 (includes 41 of the 44 States whose ratification is required for the Treaty's entry into force)   Contracting Parties: 56 (includes 28 of the 44 States whose ratification is required for the Treaty's entry into force)