Ratione personae refers to the fact that a particular group of people has personal immunity. This means that these individuals are protected from, for example, criminal prosecution. Immunity protects both private and official actions. Protection is granted only to individuals closely linked to a state's sovereignty, including a sitting head of state or minister. immunity flows from the position of a state representative, applies to both official and private acts as well as to acts committed before and while the representative occupied his or her public position.