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
The Dag Hammarskjold Library, named after the former secretary general of the organization who died in 1961, tried to create a little bit of publicity for itself, by posting a tweet of the most borrowed book of 2015. However, the results proved to be both surprising and embarrassing for the library.
Top of the checkout list proved to be a doctoral thesis from the University of Lucerne by Ramona Pedretti, who wrote about whether heads of states can be charged with war crimes in foreign courts.
Her thesis concludes that leaders in power cannot be prosecuted while they are serving as the head of government, so the likes of Robert Mugabe or
She says there are two types of immunity that leaders can use in their defense under international law.
"Immunity ratione personae prevents incumbent heads of state from being subjected to foreign criminal jurisdiction," Pedretti writes, as cited by Vox. "In contrast, immunity ratione materiae protects official acts, i.e. acts performed in an official capacity on behalf of the State, from scrutiny by foreign courts."
@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
Others could not really believe what they were reading: "I seriously just had to make sure that this wasn't a parody account. Holy smokes," while another said this is not something to brag about.
Comment: It's like googling "how to get away with murder".