ABSTRACT

The Inter-American Convention is an effort on the part of a regional body to respond to a problem which had increased in frequency and seriousness: the kidnapping of high-ranking diplomats for the purpose of political extortion. In an effort to avoid the problems attendant on the interpretation of the provisions on the right of asylum and that of extradition, the Convention classifies the crimes involved as "common crimes of international significance, regardless of motive." Criminal acts against persons entitled to special protection under international law are occurring frequently, and those acts are of international significance because of the consequences that may flow from them for relations among states. The General Assembly of the Organization, in Resolution 4, of June 30, 1970, strongly condemned acts of terrorism, especially the kidnapping of persons and extortion in connection with that crime, which it declared to be serious common crimes.