The immunity of state officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction

Abstract

The immunity of state officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction is currently regulated by customary international law. In 2007, the International Law Commission initiated efforts for the codification and progressive development of international law in this field, which are to result in codifying this aspect of «direct» diplomacy since direct contacts among state officials characterise modern international relations. These efforts for such codification and progressive development will need to address the issue of which state officials may benefit from immunity from foreign criminal jurisdiction and what may be the scope of their immunity. The practice of states as well as international case law and theory demonstrate that full personal immunity (rationae personae) is accorded to Heads of State, Heads of Government and Ministers of Foreign Affairs; however, there are trends to expand this range of beneficiaries. Other state officials are to be accorded immunity only for acts that form part of their official duties when they act on behalf of their state (rationae materiae). The International Law Commission is certainly facing an important and delicate task. In this article, the author, himself a member of the Commission, indicates certain dilemmas and possible solutions.