International Criminal Law and Immunities

1.       Which immunities do we recognise in international law? Which are the legal sources of
international immunities?

2.       Please read the decision in the Pinochet case. Concentrate on the following issues.

a.       What was at the heart of the Pinochet Case? Which important rules of international law
have come into play in the Pinochet decision?

b.      How did the Lords decide the case? Would the case be decided differently if Pinochet were
to stand before an international criminal tribunal?

3.       Please compare immunity rationae personae and ratione materiae.

4.       Please read the summary of the ICJ judgment in Congo versus Belgium (the Arrest Warant
Case). What are the conclusions of this decision regarding immunity ratione personae?

5.       Please read the decision in the Charles Taylor case. What were the main issues discussed
by the tribunal? What was the main defence submitted by Charles Taylor?

Thank you and see you soon.

ZN