The Assange case and the principle of non-refoulement.

Abstract

The principle of non-refoulement is an institution of international law, whose purpose is to give the necessary security to a person who enjoys diplomatic protection by the state; non-refoulement is contemplated in innumerable international human rights instruments, including the American Convention on Human Rights. Ecuador in 2012 granted diplomatic asylum in the London embassy and 7 years later, it unjustifiably withdraws this asylum, leaving it immersed in a much more precarious legal situation than the one that was initially before the asylum; faced with such a situation, Ecuador disrespected the principle of non-refoulement contained in its Magna Carta and other supranational norms.