Kader Asmal, professor extraordinaire in law at the University of the Western Cape and former Minister of Education and Forestry and Water Affairs, will officially open the seminar this year together with Catherine Gendre, head of the ICRC's regional delegation in Pretoria.

"The seminar will give an overview of the latest developments in international humanitarian law," said ICRC legal adviser Jamie Williamson. "In particular, it will deal with the issue of weapons, including the new Cluster Munitions Convention, signed by 110 States last month in Dublin, and small arms. Other topics will include protecting journalists in armed conflict ."

Every year this seminar brings together 35 government representatives from 16 countries across Africa (Angola, Comoros, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). All participants are specialists in humanitarian law and will discuss and review progress in ratifying and implementing the various treaties in their countries and examine the content of certain treaties and the implementation requirements involved.