The Convention is an umbrella covering the Protocols and containing only general provisions. It contains no provisions explicitly prohibiting the use of specific weapons. Provisions on the prohibition or restrictions on the use of certain weapons are the object of the Protocols annexed to the Convention. According to the Convention, only States which express their consent to be bound by at least two of these Protocols at the time of deposition of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, or of accession (Article 4, paragraph 3 of the Convention) may be bound by the Convention. The Convention was open for signature by all States at the New York headquarters of the United Nations for a 12 month period beginning on 10 April 1981 (Article 3 of the Convention).
For further details, see the introductory note to the Final Act of the United Nations Conference of 1980
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D.Schindler and J.Toman, The Laws of Armed Conflicts, Martinus Nihjoff Publisher, 1988, pp.179-184.