State immunity in international law in the context of war crimes and crimes against humanity Cover Image

Immunitet państwa w prawie międzynarodowym w kontekście zbrodni wojennych i zbrodni przeciwko ludzkości
State immunity in international law in the context of war crimes and crimes against humanity

Author(s): Marcin Kałduński
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, EU-Legislation
Published by: Kancelaria Sejmu
Keywords: immunity; state; international law; war; crimes against humanity

Summary/Abstract: State immunity is based on the principle of sovereign equality of all states which is one of the main principles of international legal order. Predominant jurisprudence of national courts as well as international courts and tribunals follows the position that in case when a claim is submitted in a court in the forum-state due to war crimes and crimes against humanity, a foreign state possesses state immunity which excludes jurisdiction of national courts. There is a strong tendency in international law to limit state immunity and exclude from its scope claims concerning the aforementioned crimes, in case they were committed on the forum-state’s territory). However the International Court of Justice assumed that the immunity is of a procedural nature and it has to be evaluated in each case on the day of adjudication. Hence, in future cases relating to war crimes and crimes against humanity may be considered in forum-state’s courts.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 67-95
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Polish