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International Law

Learn about international law on diplomatic and consular immunity, including privileges, personal immunities, waivers, and cases like the Tehran Hostages incident. Find out about the scope, duration, and limitations of diplomatic immunity.

margaretanderson
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International Law

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  1. International Law Diplomatic/consularimmunity and privileges

  2. Origin • Equality of states – sovereignimmunity • Functionalapproach: States must be abletopursuefriendly relations withoutinterference • Communication, collection of information • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwC_IaY3BmY • ICJ. TehranHostagescase • „therules of internationallaw, inshort, constitute a self-containedregime, whichontheonehand, lays down thereceivingstate’s obligationsregardingthefacilities, privileges and immunitiesto be accordedtodiplomaticmissions and, ontheother, foreseestheirpossibleabusebymembers of themission and specifiesthemeansatthedisposal of thereceivingstatetocounteranysuchabuse’

  3. Personalimmunity - inviolability • Art. 29. The person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving State shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity. • E.g. SC Presidential Statement 6573 (15 September 1998) condemning the murder of nine Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan • BUT: self-defenceorprotection of human life mightjustifydetentionexceptionally • 1973. UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Internationally Protected Persons, including Diplomatic Agents

  4. Personalimmunities • Diplomaticagent (includingdiplomaticcourierduringhismission) is inviolable, maynot be arrestedordetained • E.g. SC PresidentialStatement 6573 (15 September 1998) condemningthemurder of nineIraniandiplomatsinAfghanistan • Receivingstate has to ’takeallappropriatesteps’ topreventanyattackontheperson, freedomordignity of diplomaticagents • 1973. UN ConventiononthePrevention and Punishment of CrimesagainstInternationallyProtectedPersons, includingDiplomaticAgents

  5. Immunityfromcriminaljurisdiction of thereceivingstate • BUT: notfromthesendingstate • Immunityfrom civil and administrativejurisdiction • Exception: privateimmovableproperty • Action relatingtosuccession (inheritance) • Professional orcommercialactivityexercisedinthereceivingstateoutsideofficialfunction • Specialproblem: unpaid parking fines • US: withholds 110 per cent of unpaid parking fines and penaltiesfromthestate’s foreignaid + requiresthatmembers of diplomaticmissions hold liabilityinsurance

  6. Diplomaticagentcannot be obligedtogiveevidenceas a witnessorsubpoenaed • Exceptfor civil/administrativecasesconcerningproperty, succession, and professionalactivities • Exemptionfrom • socialsecurityprovisions, • fromalldues and taxes (exceptforindirecttaxes), • fromcustomduties and inspections (includingthepersonalbaggage of thediplomat) ifitcontainsarticlesforofficialuseoritemsofpersonaluse • Unlessthere is seriousgroundtopresumethatitcontainsotherarticlesbuttheinspection must be conductedinthepresence of a diplomaticagent

  7. Immunities and privilegesenjoyedbynon-diplomats • Members of thefamilyofthediplomaticagentforming part of hishousehold (unlessnationalsofthereceivingstate) • UK practice: includesspouses, minor children (under 18), children over 18 notinpermanentpaidemployment, personsfulfillingsocialduties of hostess tothediplomaticagent, parent of thediplomatlivingwithhim and notengagedinpermanentemployment • Members of theadministrative and technicalstaff (ifnotnationals of thereceivingstate) • BUT : immunityfromjurisdictiononlyextendstoactsperformedinthecourse of officialduties

  8. Duration and scope of diplomaticimmunity • Start: themomentthepersonenterstheterritory of thereceivingstateonproceedingtotakeuphis post, or– ifalreadyontheterritory – fromthemoment of officialnotificationbytheministry • Transit: immunityremainsiftheperson is intransitbetweenhishomestate and a thirdstatetowhich he has beenposted • BUT: notin a thirdstate! (i.e. that is neitherthereceivingstate, nor a state of transitbetweenhisstate and thereceivingstate) • End: whenthediplomatleavesthe country afterthetermination of hismissionoronexpiryof a reasonableperiodinwhichtodoso • No continuingimmunitywithregardtoactsperformedoutsideofficalfunction! • E.g. 1987. Caraccident of formerambassadorofPapua New Guinea

  9. Waiver of immunity • Possiblebuthighlyunusual • Onlyexpresswaivers • Onlythesendingstatecanwaiveimmunity of thediplomaticagent, notthediplomathimself! • E.g. 1985. Zambia waivedtheimmunity of itsofficialatits London embassysuspected of drugsoffence

  10. Inviolability of premises (includingarchives and documents) • Absoluterule • Agents of thereceivingstatecanonly enter withtheconsent of themission • Uncertainscenario: fire, naturaldisaster? • Specialduty of thereceivingstatetoprotectthemissionpremisesfromintrusionordamageor ’impairmentofitsdignity’ • 1979. Tehranhostagescase • 1999. US bombstheChineseembassyinBelgrade, ensuingriots and attacksonthe US embassyinBeijing • US paid a compensation of $28 million, China $2.87 million

  11. Breakindiplomatic relations – whataboutthepremises? • Art. 45(a): ”thereceivingstate must… respect and protectthepremises of themission” • 1984. ShootingfromtheLibyanembassyinLondon • UK breaksdiplomatic relations, searchesthe building inthepresence of a Saudi Arabian diplomat • Alsosearchesthepersonnelcitingself-defence • Abandoneddiplomaticpremises • Diplomaticasylum?

  12. Diplomaticbag • Free communicationincludesofficialcorrespondencewiththeuse of diplomaticcouriers and messagesincodeandcipher (wirelesstransmitterrequirestheconsent of thereceivingstate) • Diplomaticbag”must bearvisibleexternalmarks of theircharacter and maycontainonlydiplomaticdocumentsorarticlesintendedforofficialuse” • 1984. Kidnapping of formerNigerianministerin a crate • Inviolable, cannot be openedordetained • Size? 1984. 9 Sovietlorries ontheSovietborder • Searchincase of suspicionsofabuse: Conventionforbidsit • UK: electronicscreening is acceptable • Reservations made bycertainstates (e.g. Libya, Kuwait, SaudiArabia)

  13. Consularprivileges and immunities • Restricted, functionalimmunitysincetheyhavefewpoliticalfunctions • May not be arrestedordetainedexceptinthecase of a gravecrime and following a decisionbythecompetentjudicialauthority • Ifcriminalproceedingsareinstituted, theconsul must appearbeforethecompetentauthorities • Consularpremisesareinviolable, maynot be entered withoutconsent, must be protected • Consularbag: may be requestedtobeopenedifthere is seriousreasonthatitcontainsunofficialitems. Iftherequest is denied, thebagshall be returned.

  14. The curiouscase of DevyaniKhobragade • IndianDeputy Consul-General in New York • December 2014: accusedof submitting false documents to US authorities in order obtain a work visa for her housekeeper/maid • Allegedlyhandcuffed and strip-searched • Indiangovernmentretaliates • Refusaltomeetdelegations • Securitybarricadesaroundthe American embassyin Delhi removed • Ms. KhobragademovedtotheIndianPermanentMissiontothe UN

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