Protection of Diplomats Convention
The Protection of Diplomats Convention is a United Nations anti-terrorism treaty that codifies some of the traditional principles on the necessity of protecting diplomats.
Adoption
The convention was adopted as a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 14 December 1973 in response to a series of kidnappings and murders of diplomatic agents, beginning in the 1960s. It was drafted by the International Law Commission, which began work on it in 1971. It was adopted within two years, which was exceptionally fast by ILC standards.Content
Parties to the convention agree to criminalize the commission of murders or kidnappings of internationally protected persons as well as violent attacks against the official premises, private accommodation, or means of transport of such persons. Parties to the convention also agree to criminalize the attempted commission or threatened commission of such acts. "Internationally protected persons" is a term created by the convention, and refers explicitly to heads of state, heads of government, foreign ministers, ambassadors, other official diplomats, and members of their families.A central provision of the convention is the principle of aut dedere aut judicare—that a party to the treaty must either prosecute a person who commits an offence against an internationally protected person or send the person to another state that requests his or her extradition for prosecution of the same crime.