Article 6 The Committee shall include in its annual report under article 45 of the Covenant a summary of its activities under the present Protocol. Article 7 Pending the achievement of the objectives of resolution 1514(XV) adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 14 December 1960 concerning the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the provisions of the present Protocol shall in no way limit the right of petition granted to these peoples by the Charter of the United Nations and other international conventions and instruments under the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Article 8 1. 2. 3. 4. The present Protocol is open for signature by any State which has signed the Covenant. The present Protocol is subject to ratification by any State which has ratified or acceded to the Covenant. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The present Protocol shall be open to accession by any State which has ratified or acceded to the Covenant. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. 43