Towards a Functional International Criminal Court: An Argument in Favor of a Strong Privileges and Immunities Agreement

Part I of this Note discusses the legal doctrines governing privileges and immunities of U.N. officials and diplomats in international law. Part I also describes the manner in which diplomatic and U.N. privileges and immunities are applied to the ICC. Part II outlines the conflict between the goals of advancing human rights and preserving political sovereignty in international law. Part III argues that the adoption of the Rome Statute compels an international responsibility to achieve the goal of an effective and independent Court. This Note concludes that providing increased privileges and immunities to ICC personnel at the expense of some degree of sovereignty will assist in achieving this goal