/ 15 August 1999

SA INCORPORATING GENEVA CONVENTIONS

SOUTH AFRICA plans to proceed with legislation incorporating the Geneva Conventions into law. In a statement marking the 50th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August, 1949, the government said it accords a ”high priority” to the observance of international humanitarian law. Last year, South Africa signed the Statute of the International Criminal Court, and also ratified the international Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Pretoria has also adhered to international restrictions on the use of laser weapons capable of causing blindness.