Diplomatic Immunities and Violation of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Abstract: The paper investigated the immunities given to diplomats in the course of their diplomatic mission and the areas which it has violatedthe United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Imperatively, the paper examinedthe effects of the abuse of diplomatic immunities as against some of the articles of United Nations'UDHR in the specific areas of right to life, freedom and safety; freedom from slavery; infliction of torture and inhuman treatment; right to earn fair salary among others. The paper is descriptive in typology and qualitative in orientation; it employed secondary sources of data through documented evidence such as journal articles, media publications, reports among similar others. The documented evidences were content-analyzed thematically while Natural Rights theory of John Locke provided a theoretical guide for the study. Among other findings, the paper established thatincessant abuse of diplomatic immunities in the course of their diplomatic missionhave resulted to serious violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this basis, the paper recommended an urgent need for the United Nations cum International Community to come up with introduction of amendment to the Vienna Convention of the 1961 on diplomatic immunities. More so, 

there is need for an establishment of Diplomatic College in every state so that every potential diplomat will be well trained certain period as a person of peace before given an exequatur. In addition, immunities given to the family, friends and staff of diplomats is too unnecessary; therefore should be removed.All these aforementioned serve as realistic possible solutions towards curbing the abuse of diplomatic immunities which have violated the United Nation UDHR over years.

Keywords: Diplomacy; Diplomats; Diplomatic Immunities; Human Rights; United Nations