In
diplomacy
Diplomacy is the communication by representatives of State (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international syste ...
, a ' (PNG) is a foreign
diplomat
A diplomat (from ; romanization, romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one ...
that is asked by the host country to be recalled to their home country. If the person is not recalled as requested, the host state may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a member of the diplomatic mission (including the removal of
diplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law by which certain foreign government officials are recognized as having legal immunity from the jurisdiction of another country. ). A host country may declare any member of a diplomatic staff ' at any time without any explanation.
Diplomacy
Under Article 9 of the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. Its aim is to facilitate "the development of friendly relations" among government ...
, a receiving state may "at any time and without having to explain its decision" declare any member of a diplomatic staff '.
A person so declared is considered unacceptable and is usually recalled to their home nation. If not recalled, the receiving state "may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a member of the mission". A person can be declared before even entering the country.
With the protection of mission staff from prosecution for violating civil and
criminal law
Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It proscribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and Well-being, welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal l ...
s, depending on rank, under Articles 41 and 42 of the Vienna Convention, they are bound to respect national laws and regulations. Breaches of these articles can lead to erring staff being declared . The sanction is also used to expel diplomats suspected of
espionage
Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information ( intelligence). A person who commits espionage on a mission-specific contract is called an ...
, described as "activities incompatible with diplomatic status", or criminal acts such as
drug trafficking.
The declaration may also be a symbolic indication of displeasure. So-called "
tit for tat" exchanges have occurred (whereby countries involved in a dispute each expel diplomats of the other country), notably during the
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
. A notable occurrence outside of the Cold War was an exchange between the United States and Ecuador in 2011; the Ecuadorian government expelled the United States ambassador in response to the
United States diplomatic cables leak, and the United States responded by expelling the Ecuadorian ambassador.
Other usage
People other than diplomats can be declared ' by a country.
In non-diplomatic usage, referring to someone as ' is to say that the person is not popular or accepted by others.
In the Philippines, local legislatures of provinces, towns, and cities can declare certain people or groups, including non-diplomats and Filipino citizens, as ''
persona non grata'' to express a negative sentiment toward the certain person through a
non-binding resolution. This could be in response to the person breaking local ordinance or laws. This has also happened in Spain.
See also
* '
*
Exile
Exile or banishment is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons ...
*
Ostracism
Ostracism (, ''ostrakismos'') was an Athenian democratic procedure in which any citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years. While some instances clearly expressed popular anger at the citizen, ostracism was often us ...
*
Outlaw
An outlaw, in its original and legal meaning, is a person declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, all legal protection was withdrawn from the criminal, so anyone was legally empowered to persecute or kill them. ...
*
Refugee
A refugee, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is a person "forced to flee their own country and seek safety in another country. They are unable to return to their own country because of feared persecution as ...
Notes
References
External links
*
*
eDiplomat.com: Glossary of Diplomatic TermsText of the Vienna Convention – PDF
{{DEFAULTSORT:Persona Non Grata
Diplomacy
Latin legal terminology
Latin words and phrases
International law
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