Diplomatic Passports: Protects the Rights of Diplomats

The diplomatic passports can be simply defined asUnder the agreement made under the Vienna
the passports issued by a country to its diplomatsConvention, a diplomatic agent and the members
working in the country’s offices andof the diplomatic staff of the mission are given
consulates, located at different countries andthe official security by the government of their
nations. A Diplomatic passport is the simplest wayhome country. In addition, members of the
to protect the rights and interests of a diplomat,diplomatic staff having no diplomatic rank are also
stationed outside the country. The concept ofliable for diplomatic immunity. However, the
issuing a separate passport for diplomats cameprotection given to diplomats varies from
into implementation after ‘the Viennadesignation to designation. Private servants
Convention of Diplomatic Relations’ in 1961.working under the ranked diplomats are eligible for
The convention passed a ruling which statesprotection given under the responsibility to the
about the “diplomatic immunity,” forstaff clause. However, family members of private
diplomats that cover the inviolability andservants are not covered by the provisions of
jurisdictional immunity in the stationed country.the Vienna Conventions.
Here, inviolability refers to the carrying on strictCoverage Available for Family Members
legal actions such as the arrest or police remand,It is important to notice that family members
custodial protection, forced access or seizure ofsuch as spouse and children forming part of the
buildings, search & seizure of goods & property.household of a member of a mission enjoy the
In order to provide the best working environmentsame kind of privileges and immunities as provided
without any pressure and force, countries doto the member pf the mission. However, there is
shield their diplomats working on different missionsno as such term “family” is defined by the
on behalf of the government of that particularconvention and the meaning of the term varies
country.from the country to country.
Diplomatic Agents -- Whom to Protect?