HL Deb 17 June 1996 vol 573 c2WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What effect, if any, they consider there will be on the principle of extra-territorial jurisdiction over offences committed by any persons in relation to internal armed conflicts, as a result of Article 14 of the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices, adopted at the 14th Plenary Meeting of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Article 14 of Amended Protocol II of the UN Weaponry Convention provides for States Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure the imposition of penal sanctions against persons, who, in relation to an armed conflict and contrary to the Protocol, wilfully kill or cause injury to civilians, and to bring such persons to justice. The Government accept that jurisdiction may be exercised in such cases pursuant to international agreements. We are however currently assessing the full implications of the Amended Protocol.