Quote

"A State party may take measures derogating from its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights pursuant to Article 4 (hereinafter called "derogation measures") only when faced with a situation of exceptional and actual or imminent danger which threatens the life of the nation. A threat to the life of the nation is one that: a.) affects the whole of the population and either the whole or part of the territory of the State, and b.) threatens the physical integrity of the population, the political independence or the territorial integrity of the state or the existence or basic function of institutions indispensable to ensure and project the rights recognized in the Covenant."

Document

UN (ECOSOC): Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation of Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, para. A.39

Download Document

Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation of Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Summaries

Measures derogating from provisions of the covenant must be of a temporary and exceptional nature and strictly required by the exigencies of the situation.