At the SADC summit held in August 2003 in the United Republic of Tanzania, Heads of State and Government noted with concern that member states were slow in ratifying or acceding to protocols. By 23 June this year, 15 protocols had been ratified and entered into force. In August 2003, 12 protocols had been ratified and were ready for implementation. The three protocols that have come into force since last year are: the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses; Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; and the Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement. Eight protocols still need to be ratified by the required two-thirds in order for them to enter into force.

Name of Instrument	Date Of Signature	Date Of Entry Into Force
SADC Treaty	17 Aug 1992	30 Sep 1993
Protocol on Immunities and Privileges	17 Aug 1992	30 Sep1993
Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems	28 Aug 1995	28 Sep 1998
Protocol on Energy	24 Aug 1996	17 Apr 1998
Protocol on Transport, Communication and Meteorology	24 Aug 1996	6 July 1998
Protocol on Combating Illicit Drugs	24 Aug 1996	20 Mar 1999
Protocol on Trade	24 Aug 1996	25 Jan 2000
Charter of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA)	8 Sep 1997	8 Sep 1997
Protocol on Education and Training	8 Sep 1997	31 July 2000
Protocol on Mining	8 Sep 1997	10 Feb 2000
Protocol on the Development of Tourism	14 Sep 1998	26 Nov 2002
Protocol on Health	18 Aug 1999
Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement MOU on Cooperation in Standardisation, Quality	18 Aug 1999	30 Nov 2003
Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology in SADC	9 Nov 1999	16 July 2000
Protocol on Legal Affairs	7 Aug 2000
Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses	7 Aug 2000	22 Sep 2003
Amendment Protocol on Trade	7 Aug 2000	7 Aug 2000
Agreement Amending the Treaty of SADC	14 Aug 2001	14 Aug 2001
Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation	14 Aug 2001	2 Mar 2004
Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials in SADC	14 Aug 2001	--
Protocol on Fisheries	14 Aug 2001	8 Aug 2003
Protocol on Culture, Information and Sports	14 Aug 2001	--
Protocol Against Corruption	14 August 2001	--
Protocol on Extradition	3 Oct 2002	--
Protocol on Forestry	3 Oct 2002	--
Protocol on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters	3 Oct 2002	--
Agreement Amending the Protocol on Tribunal and the Rules of Procedure	3 Oct 2002	3 Oct 2002
MOU on Cooperation in Taxation and Related Matters	8 Aug 2002	8 Aug 2002
MOU on Macroeconomic Convergence	8 Aug 2002	8 Aug 2002
Mutual Defence Pact	26 Aug 2003	--
Charter of Fundamental Social Rights	26 Aug 2003	26 Aug 2003
Declaration on Gender and Development	8 Sep 1997	--
The Prevention and Eradiction of Violence Againts Women and Children, an Addendum to the Declaration on Gender and Development	14 Sep 1998	Do not require ratification
Declaration on Productivity	18 Aug 1999	" "
Declaration on Information and Communications Technology (ICT)	Aug 2001	" "
Declaration on HIV and AIDS	4 July 2003	" "
Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security	15 May 2004	" "

Source: SADC Secritariat