The Dag Hammarskjöld Library at the United Nations recently tweeted its 2015 publication that got checked out the most, revealing that the book is about how diplomats can get away with crimes abroad.
What was our most popular book of 2015? Find it in our library catalogue! https://t.co/hmfeCmGKCj (UN only) pic.twitter.com/niGXUxHtGt
— UN Library (@UNLibrary) December 31, 2015
Unsettlingly, the UN is full of representatives representing dreadful dictatorships. The book, called Immunity of Heads of State and State Officials for International Crimes, in question is a doctoral thesis from the University of Lucerne by Ramona Pedretti which pursues the question of when heads of state and other government officials can be charged in foreign courts.
Pedretti explains the two forms of immunity in the international law, which heads of state can benefit from. She concludes that sitting heads of state cannot be charged and prosecuted by a foreign court, but previous leaders can.
While some Twitter users questioned if this was a joke many found it disconcerting.
@UNLibrary UN bodies most popular library read of 2015? 'How to get away with International Crimes if you're a Head of State'
— indigo.life (@thekamwai) January 7, 2016
@UNLibrary This is somewhat disconcerting…
— Zach Moring (@ZachMoring1) January 6, 2016
@UNLibrary are you joking? Dont brag about this guys
— Dong (Jake) Kim (@JakeWKim) January 6, 2016
@UNLibrary so they know what war they can start and not be held accountable. IT's shameful you would brag about this.
— Jay Moore (@KM4JOJ) January 6, 2016
.@UNLibrary insane. but I guess it could have been Fifty Shades of Grey. so a wash?
— the.effing.librarian (@effinglibrarian) January 6, 2016
@UNLibrary I seriously just had to make sure that this wasn't a parody account. Holy smokes.
— Ken Peterson (@Kenjamin12) January 6, 2016
@UNLibrary That's disgraceful… Hopefully the ICC will be able to stop any avoidance of law and justice, UN members should support that.
— Filip L. Firlej (@London_Film) January 7, 2016
The post UN library’s most-checked-out book in 2015 will leave you stunned appeared first on The Express Tribune.