Section 7, The Geneva Conventions Act, 2012

(1) The court before which a person is brought for trialfor an offence under this Act shall not proceed with the trial unless (a) that person is represented by a legal practitioner ; and (b) it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that a period of not less than fourteen days has elapsed since instructions to represent the accused person were given to the legal practitioner. (2) Where the accused is a protected prisoner of war, in the absence of a legal practitioner accepted by the accused as representing him, a legal practitioner instructed for the purpose on behalf of the protecting power shall, without prejudice to the requirements of paragraph (b) of subsection 1 be regarded for the purposes of that subsection as representing the accused. (3) Where the court adjourns a trial because the accused person is not represented ,the court shall appoint a legal practitioner to represent the accused .