Immunity not common

The Commonwealth Secretariat - the official organisation of the Commonwealth - does not enjoy complete sovereign immunity from the courts, the High Court ruled last week.

The secretariat had claimed immunity in a case brought by a former senior employee over how it had constituted a panel to review accusations that the organisation had subjected her to unlawful discrimination and harassment.

The woman, represented by London firm Tasselli & Co and international law barrister Khawar Qureshi, complained that the arbitration panel breached her right to fair trial under the Human Rights Act.