Evolution of Foreign Service Activities in Treaties and National Legislation

This study examines the chief trends in recent changes in diplomatic law, driven by the evolution of international law – most notably, the development of human rights protection systems that profoundly affect the internal legal order of states – as well as the demands of economic development and the increasing international movement of individuals. The analysis focuses on selected changes in consular law norms at both the international and domestic levels. These include issues such as access to consuls
for persons deprived of liberty, civil status records, notarial functions, legalisation of documents, maritime activities, administrative tasks, and voting abroad. In principle, the scope of consular functions may be modified and expanded to meet the needs of the receiving state, provided the functions are grounded in international law or are not opposed by the receiving state. Considering the breadth of the subject, this analysis is confined to selected consular functions where the evolution of norms is particularly evident.

Keywords: diplomatic protection, consular care, consular legalisation of foreign documents, right of access to the consul, civil status consular acts, election-related consular activities, maritime activities of consuls