Editing Diplomatic immunity (section)

===Modern era and Vienna convention===

In the 19th century, the [[Congress of Vienna]] reasserted the rights of diplomats; they have been largely respected since then, as the European model has spread throughout the world. Currently, diplomatic relations, including diplomatic immunity, are governed internationally by the 1961 [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]], which has been ratified by almost every country in the world.

In modern times, diplomatic immunity continues to provide a means, albeit imperfect, to safeguard diplomatic personnel from any animosity that might arise between nations. As one article put it: "So why do we agree to a system in which we're dependent on a foreign country's whim before we can prosecute a criminal inside our own borders? The practical answer is: because we depend on other countries to honor our own diplomats' immunity just as scrupulously as we honor theirs."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jinnah-institute.org/issues/252-raymond-davis-and-the-vienna-convention- |title=Raymond Davis and the Vienna Convention |publisher=Jinnah Institute |access-date=19 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726203911/http://www.jinnah-institute.org/issues/252-raymond-davis-and-the-vienna-convention- |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}</ref>

During the 18 April 1961 Vienna Convention, the [[Holy See]] was granted diplomatic immunity to its [[nuncio|foreign ambassadors]] as well.<ref name="CNA2019">{{Cite web |title=Holy See waives diplomatic immunity for accused nuncio to France |work=Catholic News Agency |date=8 July 2019 |access-date=7 October 2019 |url= https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/41727/holy-see-waives-diplomatic-immunity-for-accused-nuncio-to-france }}</ref>

In the United States, the Diplomatic Relations Act of 1978 ({{UnitedStatesCode|22|254a}} et seq.) follows the principles introduced by the Vienna Conventions. The United States tends to be generous when granting diplomatic immunity to visiting diplomats, because a large number of US diplomats work in host countries less protective of individual rights. If the United States were to punish a visiting diplomat without sufficient grounds, [[United States House of Representatives|US representatives]] in other countries could receive harsher treatment. If a person with immunity is alleged to have committed a crime or faces a civil lawsuit, the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] asks the home country to waive immunity of the alleged offender so that the complaint can be moved to the courts. If immunity is not waived, prosecution cannot be undertaken. However, the State Department still has the right to [[Persona non grata|expel the diplomat]]. In many such cases, the diplomat's visas are revoked, and they and their family may be barred from returning to the United States. Crimes committed by members of a diplomat's family can also result in dismissal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/diplomatic-immunity |title=diplomatic immunity: West's Encyclopedia of American Law (Full Article) from |publisher=Answers.com |access-date=19 December 2011}}</ref>