§ 02 — jurisdictions

South Africa

International treaties · All documents of the country

Treaties: 101 (party — 83, withdrew — 1, signed only — 17). Source: UN Treaty Collection (Depositary of the Secretary-General).

Party (83)

Treaty	Adopted	Participation	Declarations and reservations
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (7 July 2017)	Jul 7, 2017	Sep 20, 2017 signature Feb 25, 2019 ratification
Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (15 October 2016)	Oct 15, 2016	Aug 1, 2019 ratification
Paris Agreement (12 December 2015)	Dec 12, 2015	Apr 22, 2016 signature Nov 1, 2016 ratification
Minamata Convention on Mercury (10 October 2013)	Oct 10, 2013	Oct 10, 2013 signature Apr 29, 2019 ratification
Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (29 October 2010)	Oct 29, 2010	May 11, 2011 signature Jan 10, 2013 ratification
15 . International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (13 April 2005)	Apr 13, 2005	Sep 14, 2005 signature May 9, 2007 ratification
United Nations Convention against Corruption (31 October 2003)	Oct 31, 2003	Dec 9, 2003 signature Nov 22, 2004 ratification	show Reservation: "... pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 66 (2) of the Convention which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control от 21 мая 2003 г.	May 21, 2003	Jun 16, 2003 signature Apr 19, 2005 ratification
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (18 December 2002)	Dec 18, 2002	Sep 20, 2006 signature Jun 20, 2019 ratification
Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (31 May 2001)	May 31, 2001	Oct 14, 2002 signature Feb 20, 2004 ratification	show Reservation: "AND WHEREAS pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 16 (2) of the Protocol which provided for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Protocol. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (22 May 2001)	May 22, 2001	May 23, 2001 signature Sep 4, 2002 ratification
Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (15 November 2000)	Nov 15, 2000	Dec 14, 2000 signature Feb 20, 2004 ratification	show Reservation: "AND WHEREAS pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 20 (2) of the Protocol which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Protocol. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (15 November 2000)	Nov 15, 2000	Dec 14, 2000 signature Feb 20, 2004 ratification	show Reservation: "AND WHEREAS pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 15 (2) of the Protocol which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Protocol. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (15 November 2000)	Nov 15, 2000	Dec 14, 2000 signature Feb 20, 2004 ratification	show Reservation : "AND WHEREAS pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 35 (2) of the Convention which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (25 May 2000)	May 25, 2000	Jun 30, 2003 accession
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (25 May 2000)	May 25, 2000	Feb 8, 2002 signature Sep 24, 2009 ratification	show Declaration: “a) The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is a voluntary force and therefore there is no compulsory conscription into the SANDF; b) The process of recruitment in the SANDF is initiated through advertisement in the national newspapers and the minimum age limit of 18 years is stipulated by law as a requirement; c) The induction of all recruits is conducted in public; d) All recruits are required to present a national identity document which states their date of birth and where appropriate, their educational records; and e) All recruits undergo a rigorous medical examination in terms of which prepubescence would be noticed, and any recruit determined to be underage is routinely declined from recruitment.”
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (29 January 2000)	Jan 29, 2000	Aug 14, 2003 accession
International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (9 December 1999)	Dec 9, 1999	Nov 10, 2001 signature May 1, 2003 ratification
Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (10 September 1998)	Sep 10, 1998	Sep 4, 2002 accession
Соглашение о введении глобальных технических правил для колесных транспортных средств, предметов оборудования и частей, которые могут быть установлены и/или использованы на колесных транспортных средствах от 25 июня 1998 г.	Jun 25, 1998	Jun 14, 2000 signature Apr 18, 2001 ratification
International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (15 December 1997)	Dec 15, 1997	Dec 21, 1999 signature May 1, 2003 ratification
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (11 December 1997)	Dec 11, 1997	Jul 31, 2002 accession
Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (18 September 1997)	Sep 18, 1997	Dec 3, 1997 signature Jun 26, 1998 ratification
Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (21 May 1997)	May 21, 1997	Aug 13, 1997 signature Oct 26, 1998 ratification
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (10 September 1996)	Sep 10, 1996	Sep 24, 1996 signature Mar 30, 1999 ratification
Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (4 August 1995)	Aug 4, 1995	Aug 14, 2003 accession
Мевдународное соглашение по зерну 1995 года от 7 декабря 1994 г.	Dec 7, 1994	Aug 16, 1995 notification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (14 October 1994)	Oct 14, 1994	Jan 9, 1995 signature Sep 30, 1997 ratification
Agreement to establish the South Centre (1 September 1994)	Sep 1, 1994	Oct 3, 1994 signature Aug 25, 1998 ratification
Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (28 July 1994)	Jul 28, 1994	Oct 3, 1994 signature Nov 16, 1994 ratification
Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (3 September 1992)	Sep 3, 1992	Jan 14, 1993 signature Sep 13, 1995 ratification
Convention on Biological Diversity (5 June 1992)	Jun 5, 1992	Jun 4, 1993 signature Nov 2, 1995 ratification
7 . United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (9 May 1992)	May 9, 1992	Jun 15, 1993 signature Aug 29, 1997 ratification
Второй факультативный протокол к международному пакту о гражданских и политических правах, направленный на отмену смертной казни организация объединенных наций от 15 декабря 1989 г.	Dec 15, 1989	Aug 28, 2002 accession
Convention on the Rights of the Child (20 November 1989)	Nov 20, 1989	Jan 29, 1993 signature Jun 16, 1995 ratification
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (22 March 1989)	Mar 22, 1989	May 5, 1994 accession
United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (20 December 1988)	Dec 20, 1988	Dec 14, 1998 accession	show Declaration In keeping with paragraph 4 of article 32, the Republic of South Africa does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 32 of the Convention.
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (16 September 1987)	Sep 16, 1987	Jan 15, 1990 accession
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (22 March 1985)	Mar 22, 1985	Jan 15, 1990 accession
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (10 December 1984)	Dec 10, 1984	Jan 29, 1993 signature Dec 10, 1998 ratification	show Declaration: “[The Republic of South Africa declares that] it recognises, for the purposes of article 30 of the Convention, the competence of the International Court of Justice to settle a dispute between two or more State Parties regarding the interpretation or application of the Convention, respectively."
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (10 December 1982)	Dec 10, 1982	Dec 5, 1984 signature Dec 23, 1997 ratification	show "The Government of the Republic of South Africa shall, at the appropriate time, make declarations provided for in articles 287 and 298 of the Convention relating to the settlement of disputes."
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 (with Protocols I, II and III) (10 October 1980)	Oct 10, 1980	Sep 13, 1995 accession
Конвенция о ликвидации всех форм дискриминации в отношении женщин объединенных наций 1980 год от 18 декабря 1979 г.	Dec 18, 1979	Jan 29, 1993 signature Dec 15, 1995 ratification
International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (17 December 1979)	Dec 17, 1979	Sep 23, 2003 accession
Constitution of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (8 April 1979)	Apr 8, 1979	Oct 24, 2000 accession
Agreement establishing the International Fund for Agricultural Development от 13 июня 1976 г.	Jun 13, 1976	Feb 14, 1997 accession
1 . Convention on registration of objects launched into outer space (12 November 1974)	Nov 12, 1974	Jan 27, 2012 accession
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents (14 December 1973)	Dec 14, 1973	Sep 23, 2003 accession
International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (30 November 1973)	Nov 30, 1973	May 14, 2024 accession
Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (25 March 1972)	Mar 25, 1972	Mar 25, 1972 signature Dec 16, 1975 ratification
Convention on psychotropic substances (21 February 1971)	Feb 21, 1971	Jan 27, 1972 accession	show "The Government of the Republic of South Africa deem it advisable to accede to the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, subject to reservations in respect of Article 19 paragraphs 1 and 2, Article 27 and Article 31 as provided for in article 32 paragraph 2 of the Convention."
Заключительный акт конференции Организации Объединенных Наций по дорожному движению от 8 ноября 1968 г.	Nov 8, 1968	Nov 1, 1977 accession	show "The Republic of South Africa does not consider itself bound by article 52 of the aforesaid Convention".
Факультативный протокол к международному пакту о гражданских и политических правах организация объединенных наций от 16 декабря 1966 г.	Dec 16, 1966	Aug 28, 2002 accession
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (16 December 1966)	Dec 16, 1966	Oct 3, 1994 signature Dec 10, 1998 ratification
Международный пакт об экономических, социальных и культурных правах организация объецинениых наций от 16 декабря 1966 г.	Dec 16, 1966	Oct 3, 1994 signature Jan 12, 2015 ratification	show Declaration under article 13 (2) (a) “The Government of the Republic of South Africa will give progressive effect to the right to education, as provided for in Article 13 (2) (a) and Article 14, within the framework of its National Education Policy and available resources.”
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (7 March 1966)	Mar 7, 1966	Oct 3, 1994 signature Dec 10, 1998 ratification
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (24 April 1963)	Apr 24, 1963	Aug 21, 1989 accession
Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (10 December 1962)	Dec 10, 1962	Jan 29, 1993 accession
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (18 April 1961)	Apr 18, 1961	Mar 28, 1962 signature Aug 21, 1989 ratification
Заключительный акт конференции Организации Объединенных Наций для принятия единой конвенции о наркотических средствах от 30 марта 1961 г.	Mar 30, 1961	Nov 16, 1971 accession	show "Subject to a reservation in respect of article 48 of the Convention, as provided for in article 50, paragraph 2."
Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (10 June 1958)	Jun 10, 1958	May 3, 1976 accession
Convention on the Continental Shelf (29 April 1958)	Apr 29, 1958	Apr 9, 1963 accession
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas (29 April 1958)	Apr 29, 1958	Apr 9, 1963 accession
Convention on the High Seas (29 April 1958)	Apr 29, 1958	Apr 9, 1963 accession
Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (29 April 1958)	Apr 29, 1958	Apr 9, 1963 accession
2 . Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (20 February 1957)	Feb 20, 1957	Jan 29, 1993 signature Dec 17, 2002 ratification
Protocol amending the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926 (7 December 1953)	Dec 7, 1953	Dec 29, 1953 definitive signature
Заключительный акт конференции Организации Объединенных Наций по опиуму от 23 июня 1953 г.	Jun 23, 1953	Dec 29, 1953 signature Mar 9, 1960 ratification
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (28 July 1951)	Jul 28, 1951	Jan 12, 1996 accession
Final Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (21 March 1950)	Mar 21, 1950	Oct 16, 1950 signature Oct 10, 1951 ratification
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (21 March 1950)	Mar 21, 1950	Oct 16, 1950 signature Oct 10, 1951 ratification
Protocol amending the Agreement for the Suppression of the Circulation of Obscene Publications, signed at Paris, on 4 May 1910 от 4 мая 1949 г.	May 4, 1949	Sep 1, 1950 definitive signature
Протокол об изменении международного договора, подписанного в париже 18 мап 1904 года, о действительном предупреждении преступной торговли, известной как торговля белыми рабынпми, и международной конвенции о борьбе с торговлей белыми рабынями, подписанной в париже 4 мап 1910 года объединенные нации от 4 мая 1949 г.	May 4, 1949	Aug 14, 1951 acceptance
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (9 December 1948)	Dec 9, 1948	Dec 10, 1998 accession
Protocol amending the International Convention relating to Economic Statistics, signed at Geneva on 14 December 1928 (9 December 1948)	Dec 9, 1948	Dec 10, 1948 definitive signature
Protocol Bringing under International Control Drugs Outside the Scope of the Convention of 13 July 1931 for Limiting the Manufacture and Regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, on 11 December 1946 (19 November 1948)	Nov 19, 1948	Dec 8, 1948 definitive signature
Convention on the International Maritime Organization (6 March 1948)	Mar 6, 1948	Feb 28, 1995 acceptance
Протокол об изменении конвенции о пресечении распространения порнографических изданий и торговли ими от 12 ноября 1947 г.	Nov 12, 1947	Nov 12, 1947 definitive signature
Протокол об изменении конвенции о борьбе с торговлей женщинами и детьми от 12 ноября 1947 г.	Nov 12, 1947	Nov 12, 1947 definitive signature
Protocol amending the Agreements, Conventions and Protocols on Narcotic Drugs, concluded at The Hague on 23 January 1912, at Geneva on 11 February 1925 and 19 February 1925, and 13 July 1931, at Bangkok on 27 November 1931 and at Geneva on 26 June 1936 (11 December 1946)	Dec 11, 1946	Dec 15, 1946 signature Feb 24, 1948 acceptance
Protocol concerning the Office international d'hygiène publique от 22 июля 1946 г.	Jul 22, 1946	Jul 22, 1946 signature Mar 19, 1948 acceptance
Constitution of the World Health Organization от 22 июля 1946 г.	Jul 22, 1946	Jul 22, 1946 signature Aug 7, 1947 acceptance
Факультативный протокол к Конвенции о ликвидации всех форм дискриминации в отношении женщин от 6 октября 1999 г.	—	Oct 18, 2005 accession

Withdrew from the treaty (1)

Treaty	Adopted	Participation
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (17 July 1998)	Jul 17, 1998	Jul 17, 1998 signature Nov 27, 2000 ratification Oct 19, 2016 withdrawal Уведомление: 19.10.2016

Signed only (17)

Treaty	Adopted	Signature
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes (24 December 2024)	Dec 24, 2024	Oct 25, 2025 signature
Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (19 June 2023)	Jun 19, 2023	Jun 9, 2025 signature
Arms Trade Treaty (2 April 2013)	Apr 2, 2013	Sep 25, 2013 signature
Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products от 12 ноября 2012 г.	Nov 12, 2012	Jan 10, 2013 signature
Lusaka Agreement on Co-operative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora (8 September 1994)	Sep 8, 1994	Sep 9, 1994 signature
International Sugar Agreement, 1992 (20 March 1992)	Mar 20, 1992	Dec 22, 1992 signature
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (8 August 1975)	Aug 8, 1975	Dec 16, 1975 signature
Slavery Convention, signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926 and amended by the Protocol (7 December 1953)	Dec 7, 1953	Dec 29, 1953 signature
Convention on the Political Rights of Women (31 March 1953)	Mar 31, 1953	Jan 29, 1993 signature
International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, signed at Paris on 4 May 1910, amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, 4 May 1949 (4 May 1949)	May 4, 1949	Aug 14, 1951 signature
Agreement for the Suppression of the Circulation of Obscene Publications, signed at Paris on 4 May 1910, amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, 4 May 1949 от 4 мая 1949 г.	May 4, 1949	Sep 1, 1950 signature
International Convention relating to economic statistics, signed at Geneva on 14 December 1928, amended by the Protocol signed at Paris on 9 December 1948 (9 December 1948)	Dec 9, 1948	Dec 10, 1948 signature
Convention for the Suppression of the Circulation of, and Traffic in, Obscene Publications, concluded at Geneva on 12 September 1923 and amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, on 12 November 1947 (12 November 1947)	Nov 12, 1947	Nov 12, 1947 signature
International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women of Full Age, concluded at Geneva on 11 October 1933, as amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, on 12 November 1947 (12 November 1947)	Nov 12, 1947	Nov 12, 1947 signature
International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children, concluded at Geneva on 30 September 1921, as amended by the Protocol signed at Lake Success, New York, on 12 November 1947 (12 November 1947)	Nov 12, 1947	Nov 12, 1947 signature
Convention for Limiting the Manufacture and Regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs (11 December 1946)	Dec 11, 1946	Feb 24, 1948 signature
International Opium Convention (11 December 1946)	Dec 11, 1946	Feb 24, 1948 signature

Dates of signature and ratification follow the Depositary; declarations and reservations are given in English, as in the source. Denunciations and withdrawals are taken from the Depositary's notes; the date is the date of effect, or the date of notification when the former is unknown.