The protection of water during armed conflict

Abstract

Water has been used for military purposes in the past and still continues today, i.e. poisoning of enemy water, attacking enemy water installations, etc. This conduct denies access to water, affects the supply of water, health, supply of electricity, etc. Public international law, such as treaties (e.g. The 1949 Geneva Conventions), customary international law, etc, regulate the protection of water during armed conflict. Chapter I of the dissertation analizes the public international law ire the abovementioned. The application of public inteniational law, depends on the municipal law of the state concerned. This municipal law is, in the case of South Africa, found in the 1996 Constitution. The 1996 Constitution contains specific provisions regarding inter alia the legal obligations of the South African security services, the legal status of international agreements, as well as the application of customary international law and international law. Chapter II of the dissertation analizes the abovementioned wrt the legal obligations of the SA National Defence Force ire the subject matter.