1. CONSIDERATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS TABLED
 AMENDMENTS TO THE CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
(CCW)

2. ISSUES THAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE PRESENTATION
BACKGROUND TO THE CCW
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CCW
RSA PARTICIPATION IN THE CCW
WHAT DO THE AMENDMENTS ENTAIL?
WHAT IS TO BE DONE AND WHY
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3. BACKGROUND TO THE CCW
Convention on weapons that can be excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects
Protocols covers:
Non-Detectable Fragments (Prohibition)
Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (Restriction)
Incendiary Weapons (Restriction)
Blinding Laser Weapons (Prohibition)
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW - Post-conflict remedial measures)

4. NUMBER OF STATES PARTIES TO THE CCW
Framework Convention (112)
Protocols:
Non-Detectable Fragments (110)
Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (94)
Incendiary Weapons (106)
Blinding Laser Weapons (97)
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW - 68)
Amendment to Art 1 of framework CCW (74)

5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CCW
It is the only legally binding international arms control agreement that either prohibits or restricts the use of a range of diverse conventional weapons
The fact that it addresses weapons deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects have made the CCW an important instrument of international humanitarian law
The CCW’s attempt to regulate in certain cases the transfer of specific conventional weapons distinguishes it not only as a non-proliferation measure but also as an arms control measure

6. RSA AND THE CCW When did RSA get involved in CCW?
13 September 1995: RSA deposited its instrument of accession to the CCW
13 March 1996: RSA became a State Party to the CCW

7. RSA ROLE PLAYERS IN CCW DIRCO
Department of Defence and Veteran Affairs
Civil society, especially on the question of mines and ERW

8. WHY PARTICIPATE IN THE CCW?
CCW contributes in creating a conducive environment for stability to prosper CCW contributes to the maintenance of international peace and security CCW is a useful measure in limiting and alleviating the suffering caused by excessively injurious weapons

9. FORMS OF RSA PARTICIPATION IN CCW
Promote and protect RSA interests
National implementation of CCW obligations
Utilisation of CCW as a platform to advance RSA’s Foreign Policy objectives on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control
Promotion of the objectives of CCW iro stability and post-conflict reconstruction

10. WHAT DO THE AMENDMENTS ENTAIL?
Amendment to Article 1 of the Framework Convention
To make the CCW applicable to conflicts of a non-international nature.
This is particularly relevant to Africa as so many active hostilities in recent decades have been internal in nature.

11. Addition of Protocol V (Explosive Remnants of War)
The emphasis is on post-conflict remedial measures.
Protocol V deals mainly with the clearance, removal, disposal and destruction of munitions following the cessation of active hostilities; the retention and transmission of information; the protection of civilians and humanitarian missions, and; international co-operation and assistance.

12. Addition of Protocol V (Explosive Remnants of War) - Continued -
The technical and preventive measures in Protocol V are contained in an Annex whose implementation is purely voluntary. The same goes for the training of military personnel, which is also dealt with in a technical Annex.

13. Addition of Protocol V (Explosive Remnants of War) - Continued -
Africa is the most affected continent when it comes to explosive remnants of war (e.g. landmines, unexploded cluster munitions).
In all conferences SA consistently advocates necessity of those in a position to do so to take their international co-operation and assistance obligations seriously.

14. WHAT IS TO BE DONE
Obtain RSA acceptance/approval of the amendment to Article I and consent to be bound by Protocol V in order to pave the way towards ratification as envisaged in Section 231(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
(Act 108 of 1996)

15. AND WHY
Recommended action would constitute a significant gesture demonstrating South Africa’s commitment to promote international peace and security, to limit and alleviate the suffering caused by war and armed conflict, and of its responsibility to implement humanitarian and arms control policies to this end.
Recommended action would have no organisational implications to the structures or capabilities required iro the amendment to Article 1 of the Treaty and Protocol V.

16. AND WHY - Continued -
A primary goal of South Africa’s policy on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control is to reinforce and promote SA as a responsible producer, possessor and trader of defence related products and advanced technologies in the nuclear, biological, chemical and missile fields, in line with the decision taken by Cabinet in August 1994.

17. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The recommended action also has no financial implications other than the servicing of the Meetings of States Parties in Geneva Switzerland (conference services and documentation), for which South Africa’s assessed costs is approximately USD 1,000 per annum. These costs are covered by DIRCO and are already being made by the Department, as South Africa attends this meeting as an observer.
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