Japan has deposited the Instrument of Accession to both of the Protocols Additional of 8 June 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of the Victims of International and Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I and II).
Japan has as well deposited the declaration relating to its recognition of the competence of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, based on Article 90 of Protocol I. Both Instruments of Accession and the Declaration were deposited with the Swiss Federal Council, in its capacity as depository of the Protocols, on 31 August 2004.
The Protocols will enter into force for Japan six months after the deposit of the instruments of accession, i.e. on 28 February 2005. Japan will be the 68th State to have accepted the Competence of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission.
