II SÉRIE-A — NÚMERO 175

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4 The Standing Committee may exchange information with relevant organisations dealing with the exercise of

children's rights.

Article 18 – Meetings

1 At the end of the third year following the date of entry into force of this Convention and, on his or her own

initiative, at any time after this date, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall invite the Standing

Committee to meet.

2 Decisions may only be taken in the Standing Committee if at least one-half of the Parties are present.

3 Subject to Articles 16 and 20 the decisions of the Standing Committee shall be taken by a majority of the

members present.

4 Subject to the provisions of this Convention the Standing Committee shall draw up its own rules of

procedure and the rules of procedure of any working party it may set up to carry out all appropriate tasks under

the Convention.

Article 19 – Reports of the Standing Committee

After each meeting, the Standing Committee shall forward to the Parties and the Committee of Ministers of the

Council of Europe a report on its discussions and any decisions taken.

Chapter IV – Amendments to the Convention

Article 20

1 Any amendment to the articles of this Convention proposed by a Party or the Standing Committee shall be

communicated to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and forwarded by him or her, at least two

months before the next meeting of the Standing Committee, to the member States of the Council of Europe, any

signatory, any Party, any State invited to sign this Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 and

any State or the European Community invited to accede to it in accordance with the provisions of Article 22.

2 Any amendment proposed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be examined

by the Standing Committee which shall submit the text adopted by a three-quarters majority of the votes cast to

the Committee of Ministers for approval. After its approval, this text shall be forwarded to the Parties for

acceptance.

3 Any amendment shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of

one month after the date on which all Parties have informed the Secretary General that they have accepted it.

Chapter V – Final clauses

Article 21 – Signature, ratification and entry into force

1 This Convention shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe and the

non-member States which have participated in its elaboration.

2 This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or

approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

3 This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of

three months after the date on which three States, including at least two member States of the Council of Europe,

have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention in accordance with the provisions of the preceding

paragraph.

4 In respect of any signatory which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Convention

shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the

date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.