Legal Definitions - inviolable

Inviolable describes something that is so fundamental, sacred, or protected that it cannot be broken, infringed upon, or disregarded. It refers to a right, principle, or agreement that is considered unassailable and immune from violation.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of something being inviolable:

• Example 1: Constitutional Rights

  Many democratic constitutions declare certain fundamental human rights, such as the right to free speech or the right to a fair trial, to be inviolable. This means that these rights are considered so essential that no government or other entity can legitimately take them away or significantly restrict them without due process and compelling justification. For instance, a government cannot arbitrarily silence dissent because the right to free expression is deemed inviolable, meaning it cannot be broken or infringed upon by state power.

• Example 2: Diplomatic Immunity

  Under international law, the person of a diplomat and the premises of an embassy are considered inviolable. This principle means that a diplomat cannot be arrested or detained by the host country's authorities, and the embassy building cannot be entered by local police or military without explicit permission. This protection ensures that diplomats can perform their duties without fear of interference, treating their person and their mission's physical space as immune from violation by the host state.

• Example 3: International Treaties

  When nations sign a critical peace treaty, they often declare its terms, such as established borders or agreements on disarmament, to be inviolable. This signifies a solemn commitment that the signatory countries will uphold the treaty's provisions and not attempt to alter, challenge, or break them through force or other means. The declaration of inviolability underscores the binding and unassailable nature of the agreement, making it clear that its terms are not to be violated.