Privileges and Immunities of Members of Permanent Missions in Geneva and of International Officials in Switzerland

Abstract

Privileges and immunities of members of permanent, special and observer missions in Switzerland are based on the following legal instruments:

• the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961, which came into force for Switzerland on 24 April 1964 (RS 0 191.01);

• the Convention on Special Missions of 8 December 1969, which entered into force for Switzerland on 21 June 1985 (RS 0.191.02);

• decisions of the Swiss Federal Council based on constitutional norms assigning to it the principal responsibility in the realm of foreign relations;

• the practice of Swiss authorities based on customary law and relating to questions left open by the 1961 Vienna Convention and the 1969 Convention on Special Missions.