this is where a country has signed but not yet ratified a convention. Being a signatory means that the country has indicated that it agrees with the main idea of the convention, that it agrees it will not take any action to violate the main idea of the convention, and that it is interested in becoming a States Party in the future. Being a signatory does not mean that the country is legally required to comply with all the specific provisions of the convention, as it must when it is a States Party. Previous Page
A party that has signed an agreement. In regards to a treaty, a signatory is not yet legally bound by the treaty. Instead, a signatory agrees to an obligation not to defeat the object and purpose of a signed treaty. See ratification.