§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legislation is required before(a) the 1977 additional protocols to the Geneva convention and (b) the 1981 inhumane weapons convention can be ratified by Her Majesty's Government.
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§ Mr. Garel-JonesShould we decide to ratify the 1977 additional protocols to the Geneva conventions, legislation would be needed at least in the form of an amendment to the Geneva Conventions Act of 1957, to create criminal offences in respect of grave breaches of additional protocol I, as required by article 85 of that protocol. The need for legislation on any further points is under consideration.
It is not thought that legislation would be required to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the 1981 United Nations weaponry convention.