International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Unidroit)

HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS

South Africa acceded to the Unidroit Statute during 1971 and has participated in the Institute's activities from that date onwards. It is an intergovernmental organisation with its seat in Rome. Its purpose is to examine ways of harmonising and co-ordinating the private law of States and to gradually prepare the adoption of uniform rules of private law by States.

Unidroit's activities cover a wide range of subjects, some of which are of interest to the South African authorities concerned, while there is no interest in others. As a result the intensity of South Africa's participation in the various meetings of the Institute also varies. Some meetings are attended by members of the South African Embassy in Rome, while full delegations of technical experts attend other meetings when subjects of a particular interest to South Africa are considered.

OTHER DEPARTMENT AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development

GENERAL COMMENTS

Activities of Unidroit cover a substantial range of subjects, which are discussed at meetings. South Africa normally participates if it has an interest in a specific meeting. A staff member of the South African Embassy usually attends the general meetings.

Unidroit has, for several years, been facilitating negotiation on the preparation of an International Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and a protocol to this Convention on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment. South Africa hosted a Diplomatic Conference in Cape Town from 29 October to 16 November 2001 at which both the Convention and Protocol were finalised and signed by attending states. Two further Protocols are being developed: a Protocol on Space Equipment and a Protocol on Railway Rolling Stock. South Africa is involved in the negotiation process of both.

A Protocol of this Convention on matters specific to aircraft equipment is also under negotiation. A South African delegation has been participating in all the negotiation rounds that have taken place since August 1998.