CYIL 2012

INTERNATIONAL LAW ON IMMUNITIES ACCORDED TO HIGHǧRANKING STATE OFFICIALS INTERNATIONAL LAW ON IMMUNITIES ACCORDED TO HIGH-RANKING STATE OFFICIALS

Petra Baumruk

Abstract: International law on immunities accorded to Heads of State or other high ranking state officials is a controversial issue, mainly in the context of officials who are prosecuted for heinous crimes (jus cogens) under international law. The question arises as to, whether they should be able to use the immunity accorded to them as a “shield” against prosecution. This contribution starts by providing an overview of various categories of immunities. A description, and distinction, is made between Functional immunity (ratione materiae) and Personal immunity (ratione personae) . Problems concerning proceedings which have been brought against both incumbent and former Heads of State in respect of alleged international crimes committed while in office, will be described by analysing case law from international courts and international ad hoc criminal tribunals, as well as national courts. Resumé: Mezinárodní právo týkající se imunity hlavy státu či jiných vysoce posta vených státních představitelů je v současné době kontroverzním tématem. Imunitou těchto osob se rozumí jejich osvobození od trestního stíhání nebo omezení trestní pravomoci. Tato ochrana je tvořena dvěma složkami – imunitou funkční ( ratione ma teriae ) která se vztahuje pro úkony učiněné v rámci výkonu funkce a imunitou osobní ( ratione personae ) pro ostatní úkony uskutečněné během funkčního období. Tento příspěvek popisuje problémy týkající se soudního řízení, pokud jde o údajné zločiny jus cogens , které byly podány jak proti současnému tak i bývalému státnímu představi teli. Tyto případy jsou popsány na základě analýzy judikatury mezinárodních soudů a mezinárodních ad hoc trestních tribunálů, jakož i vnitrostátních soudů. Key words: Functional immunity (ratione materiae) – Personal immunity (ratione personae) – International courts – State immunity – National courts – International crimes – Incumbent or former Head of State – Impunity – State official – Jus cogens On the Author: Mgr. Petra Baumruk is an Icelandic law student currently pursuing her Ph.D. study at the Charles University, Faculty of Law, where she concentrates on the branch of International Law. Her final thesis will be on the issue of Universal Jurisdiction. Simultaneously she is taking part in the LLM-programme at the university, where her main emphasis is on International Human Rights and Environmental Protection. Her final thesis will be on “Right to a Healthy Environment as a Human Right”. In June 2010 she graduated from the University of Iceland, Faculty of Law, within the field of International Law with her final thesis on “International Law on Immunities: where are we heading for?”

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