Verdrag inzake de privileges en immuniteiten van het Internationale Hof voor het recht van de zee

The Tribunal shall enjoy immunity from legal process, except insofar as in any particular case it has expressly waived its immunity.

The property, assets and funds of the Tribunal, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, requisition, confiscation, seizure, expropriation or any other form of interference, whether by executive, administrative, judicial or legislative action.

To the extent necessary to carry out its functions, the property, assets and funds of the Tribunal shall be exempt from restrictions, regulations, controls and moratoria of any nature.

The Tribunal shall have insurance coverage against third-party risks in respect of vehicles owned or operated by it, as required by the laws and regulations of the State in which the vehicle is operated.

For the purposes of its official communications and correspondence, the Tribunal shall enjoy in the territory of each State Party, insofar as is compatible with the international obligations of the State concerned, treatment not less favourable than that which the State Party accords to any intergovernmental organization or diplomatic mission in the matter of priorities, rates and taxes applicable to mail and the various forms of communication and correspondence.

The Tribunal may use all appropriate means of communication and make use of codes or cipher for its official communications or correspondence. The official communications and correspondence of the Tribunal shall be inviolable.

The Tribunal shall have the right to dispatch and receive correspondence and other materials or communications by courier or in sealed bags, which shall have the same privileges, immunities and facilities as diplomatic couriers and bags.

The Tribunal, its assets, income and other property, and its operations and transactions shall be exempt from all direct taxes; it is understood, however, that the Tribunal shall not claim exemption from taxes which are no more than charges for public utility services.

The Tribunal shall be exempt from all customs duties, import turnover taxes and prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of articles imported or exported by the Tribunal for its official use.

Goods imported or purchased under such an exemption shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of in the territory of a State Party, except under conditions agreed with the Government of that State Party. The Tribunal shall also be exempt from all customs duties, import turnover taxes, prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of its publications.

The Tribunal shall not, as a general rule, claim exemption from duties and taxes which are included in the price of movable and immovable property and taxes paid for services rendered. Nevertheless, when the Tribunal for its official use makes major purchases of property and goods or services on which duties and taxes are charged or are chargeable, States Parties shall make appropriate administrative arrangements for the exemption of such charges or reimbursement of the amount of duty and/or tax paid.

Goods purchased under such an exemption or reimbursement shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of, except in accordance with the conditions laid down by the State Party which granted the exemption or reimbursement. No exemption or reimbursement shall be accorded in respect of charges for public utility services provided to the Tribunal.

The salaries, emoluments and allowances paid to Members and officials of the Tribunal shall be exempt from taxation.

Where the incidence of any form of taxation depends upon residence, periods during which such Members or officials are present in a State for the discharge of their functions shall not be considered as periods of residence if such Members or officials are accorded diplomatic privileges, immunities and facilities.

States Parties shall not be obliged to exempt from income tax pensions or annuities paid to former Members and former officials of the Tribunal.

Without being restricted by financial controls, regulations or financial moratoriums of any kind, while carrying out its activities:

In exercising its rights under paragraph 1, the Tribunal shall pay due regard to any representations made by any State Party insofar as it is considered that effect can be given to such representations without detriment to the interests of the Tribunal.

Members of the Tribunal shall, when engaged on the business of the Tribunal, enjoy the privileges, immunities, facilities and prerogatives accorded to heads of diplomatic missions in accordance with the Vienna Convention.

Members of the Tribunal and members of their families forming part of their households shall be accorded every facility for leaving the country where they may happen to be and for entering and leaving the country where the Tribunal is sitting. On journeys in connection with the exercise of their functions, they shall in all countries through which they may have to pass enjoy all the privileges, immunities and facilities granted by these countries to diplomatic agents in similar circumstances.

If Members of the Tribunal, for the purpose of holding themselves at the disposal of the Tribunal, reside in any country other than that of which they are nationals or permanent residents, they shall, together with the members of their families forming part of their households, be accorded diplomatic privileges, immunities and facilities during the period of their residence there.

Members of the Tribunal shall be accorded, together with members of their families forming part of their households, the same repatriation facilities in time of international crises as are accorded to diplomatic agents under the Vienna Convention.

Members of the Tribunal shall have insurance coverage against third-party risks in respect of vehicles owned or operated by them, as required by the laws and regulations of the State in which the vehicle is operated.

Paragraphs 1 to 5 of this article shall apply to Members of the Tribunal even after they have been replaced if they continue to exercise their functions in accordance with article 5, paragraph 3, of the Statute.

In order to secure, for Members of the Tribunal, complete freedom of speech and independence in the discharge of their functions, the immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and all acts done by them in discharging their functions shall continue to be accorded, notwithstanding that the persons concerned are no longer Members of the Tribunal or performing those functions.

The Registrar shall, when engaged on the business of the Tribunal, be accorded diplomatic privileges, immunities and facilities.

Other officials of the Tribunal shall enjoy in any country where they may be on the business of the Tribunal, or in any country through which they may pass on such business, such privileges, immunities and facilities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions. In particular, they shall be accorded:

The officials of the Tribunal shall be required to have insurance coverage against third-party risks in respect of vehicles owned or operated by them, as required by the laws and regulations of the State in which the vehicle is operated.

The Tribunal shall communicate to all States Parties the categories of officials to which the provisions of this article shall apply. The names of the officials included in these categories shall from time to time be communicated to all States Parties.

Agents, counsel and advocates before the Tribunal shall be accorded, during the period of their missions, including the time spent on journeys in connection with their missions, the privileges, immunities and facilities necessary for the independent exercise of their functions. In particular, they shall be accorded: