Date: 2011
Type: Contribution to book
Immunity for private contractors : legal hurdles or political snags?
Francesco FRANCIONI and Natalino RONZITTI (eds), War by contract : human rights, humanitarian law and private contractors, Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 448-469
FRULLI, Micaela, Immunity for private contractors : legal hurdles or political snags?, in Francesco FRANCIONI and Natalino RONZITTI (eds), War by contract : human rights, humanitarian law and private contractors, Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 448-469
- https://hdl.handle.net/1814/47646
Retrieved from Cadmus, EUI Research Repository
This chapter analyses the extent to which different kinds of immunities may bar legal proceedings against PMSCs end their employees. Firstly, it addresses the issue of immunity from criminal jurisdiction. The conclusion is that often immunity of private contractors from criminal jurisdiction does not depend on the application of immunity rules, but stems from the combination of a lack of applicable rules to exercise criminal jurisdiction and a lack of political will to proceed. For civil proceedings, the most relevant obstacle that has prevented courts from exercising their jurisdiction over private military and security companies (PMSCs) is the ‘political question doctrine’. This doctrine and similar ones, crafted to protect the exercise of governmental functions, should be narrowly interpreted. In particular, there should be no bar on judicial review when human rights violations occur, since governments themselves are bound to ensure respect for human rights and should foster a culture of accountability.
Cadmus permanent link: https://hdl.handle.net/1814/47646
Full-text via DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199604555.003.0023
ISBN: 9780199604555; 9780191725180
Initial version: http://hdl.handle.net/1814/12960
Version: Published version of EUI AEL WP 2009/24
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