Assignment:
It's easy to read a list of countries and count those that have ratified a particular U.N. treaty. What does that really mean? How do countries ratify treaties? Can a country be a "State Party" to a treaty without ratifying the treaty? (This matters because the treaty provisions apply only to States Party to that treaty. Or do they? What status does a State have if it only signs a treaty, for example can that state amend the treaty?)