Vienna Convention

• Canada’s inability to provide safety and security to Indian diplomats challenges the “most fundamental aspect” of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as per External Affairs Minister.
• Canada recently withdrew 41 of its diplomats from India and “paused” walk-in services at its consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh, affecting Canadian visa facilities for Indians.
• Earlier Indian missions in Canada had stopped issuing visas in September amid diplomatic row.

ABOUT VIENNA CONVENTION

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) is a United Nations treaty that set some common principles and terms on how countries must treat each other’s diplomatic representatives, in order to ensure friendly relations and maintain proper communication channels between countries.
• 193 countries have ratified the convention, meaning they agree it should be legally binding on them.
  • India ratified it through the Diplomatic Relations (Vienna Convention) Act of 1972.
• Article 9 of the convention states that the receiving State may, at any time and without having to explain its decision, notify the sending State that the head of the mission or any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non grata or unwelcome.
• It also covers diplomatic immunity.
  • It’s the privilege of exemption from certain laws and taxes granted to diplomats by the country in which they are posted.
  • It was framed so that diplomats can function without fear, threat or intimidation from the host country.
• Host nations hold the responsibility to protect diplomats from attacks on their freedom and dignity.