4 | II Série A - Número: 069 | 3 de Fevereiro de 2015

Also having regard to Article 51 of the Convention which specifies that judges are entitled, during the discharge of their functions, to the privileges and immunities provided for in Article 40 of the Statute of the Council of Europe and in the agreements made thereunder; Recalling the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe, signed at Paris on 2 September 1949, (hereinafter referred to as “the General Agreement”), and its Second, Fourth and Fifth Protocols; Considering that a new Protocol to the General Agreement is advisable to accord privileges and immunities to the judges of the Court; Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

In addition to the privileges and immunities specified in Article 18 of the General Agreement, judges shall be accorded in respect of themselves, their spouses and minor children the privileges and immunities, exemptions and facilities accorded to diplomatic envoys in accordance with international law.

Article 2

For the purposes of this Protocol, the term “judges” means judges elected in accordance with Article 22 of the Convention as well as any ad hoc judge appointed by a State Party concerned in pursuance of Article 27, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

Article 3

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

Article 4

Privileges and immunities are accorded to judges not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves but in order to safeguard the independent exercise of their functions. The plenary Court alone shall be competent to waive the immunity of judges; it has not only the right, but is under a duty, to waive the immunity of a judge in any case where, in its opinion, the immunity would impede the course of justice, and where it can be waived without prejudice to the purpose for which the immunity is accorded.

Article 5

1 The provisions of Articles 1, 3 and 4 of this Protocol shall apply to the Registrar of the Court and a Deputy Registrar formally notified as Acting Registrar to the States Parties to the Convention.
2 The provisions of Article 3 of this Protocol and Article 18 of the General Agreement shall apply to a Deputy Registrar of the Court.
3 The privileges and immunities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article are accorded to the Registrar and a Deputy Registrar not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves but to facilitate the discharge of their duties. The plenary Court alone shall be competent to waive the immunity of its Registrar and a Deputy Registrar; it has not only the right, but is under a duty, to waive such immunity in any case where, in its opinion,