Súčasná diplomatická prax vo vzťahu k partnerom homosexuálnych členov diplomatických misií a manželkám polygamných členov diplomatických misií Prečítať

CURRENT DIPLOMATIC PRACTICE ON PARTNERS OF HOMOSEXUAL MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND WIVES OF POLYGAMOUS MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS

Peter Rosputinský

***

Politické vedy, Volume 22, Number 4/2019, pages 172-220

DOI: http://doi.org/10.24040/politickevedy.2019.22.4.172-220 

Recommended form for quotation of the article / Odporúčaná forma citácie článku:

ROSPUTINSKÝ, P. 2019. Current Diplomatic Practice on Partners of Homosexual Members of Diplomatic Missions and Wives of Polygamous Members of Diplomatic Missions. In Politické vedy. [online]. Vol. 22, No. 4, 2019. ISSN 1335–2741, pp. 172-220. Available at: http://doi.org/10.24040/politickevedy.2019.22.4.172-220 

ABSTRACT

Although there is no rule defining the term family member of a member of a diplomatic mission in general international law, it is an established consensus between States of different cultures, political systems and legal orders that at least a husband or a wife and their joint minor children are family members. However, the status of same-sex partners of diplomats as well as the second and other wives of the polygamous diplomat is unclear. Since the data about practice of States regarding same-sex partners on one hand, and wives with children of polygamous diplomats on the other hand, is fragmentary and hardlyaccessible, we decided to conduct a research, objective of which was to identify the current diplomatic practice on the issues concerned as well as its consequences with respect to the definition of a family member of a member of a diplomatic mission. Themain research was undertaken by the means of written requests sent to Ministries of Foreign Affairs and by subsequent processing of responses received. The results show that many sending States are sending openly homosexual diplomats into receiving Statesnot recognising any form of same-sex partnership and that many receiving States prohibiting polygamy are willing to accredit sending Statesʼpolygamous diplomats with all their children, and even all their wives. This demonstrates an emerging tendency of the prevailing character of the sending Statesʼlaw with respect to the definition of family members which takes place on the basis of international courtesy and not of international law.  

Key words: same-sex partner, homosexual partner, registered partnership, polygamy, marriage, family member, diplomatic mission, accreditation, diplomatic privileges and immunities