Immunity

A privilege that entails that particular persons may exercise their function without being held accountable for particular wrongdoings. This may apply to particular state officials or members of international organisations. However, there is a growing tendency towards recognizing an exception for inidividual criminal responsibility for core international crimes: war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Immunity is also provided to combatants for their participation in hostilities, as long as they engaged in legitimate actions during a ligitimate armed conflict.