Chapter VI. Selected legal opinions of the secretariats of the United Nations and related intergovernmental organizations

Pages369-415

Chapter VI
SELECTED LEGA L OPINIONS OF THE SECRETARIATS OF THE
UNITEDξ€ŸNATIONS AND REL ATED INTERGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS*
A. Lξ€œξ€”ξ€›ξ€’ ξ€–ξ€ˆξ€™ξ€•ξ€™ξ€–ξ€•ξ€˜  ξ€šξ€“ξ€œ Sξ€œξ€—ξ€ξ€œξ€šξ€›ξ€ξ€™ξ€›ξ€š  ξ€šξ€“ξ€œ Uξ€•ξ€™ξ€šξ€œξ€ξ€ŸNξ€›ξ€šξ€™ξ€–ξ€•ξ€˜
(Issued or prepared by the Oξ€ˆce of Legal Aξ‚Šairs)
1. Privileges and immunities
(a) Note to the Ministry of Foreign Aξ€šairs of [State], concerning privileges
and immunities extended to locally-recruited sta ξ€š who are nationals of [State]
Aξ€žξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Žξ€ξ€ 10 5 ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Cξ€“ξ€—ξ€žξ€–ξ€ξ€ž ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€›ξ€‰ Nξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€”β€”Aξ€žξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Žξ€ξ€ V ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Cξ€Ÿξ€•-
ξ€™ξ€ξ€•ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• ξ€Ÿξ€• Pξ€žξ€˜ξ€™ξ€˜ξ€ξ€ξ€‘ξ€ξ€”  I ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€ξ€” ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€›ξ€‰ Nξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€”, 1946β€”Nξ€Ÿ ξ€›ξ€˜ξ€Œ-
ξ€Œξ€ξ€žξ€ξ€•ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• ξ€šξ€ξ€–ξ€œξ€ξ€ξ€• ξ€˜ξ€• ξ€–ξ€ξ€žξ€•ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€—ξ€ξ€ξ‚Ž  ξ€•ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€—ξ€ξ€ξ‚Ž ξ€žξ€ξ€Žξ€žξ€ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€› ξ€”ξ€–ξ€—ξ€Œξ€Œ,
ξ€œξ€˜ξ€–ξ€“ ξ€ξ€ξ€Žξ€ξ€’ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• ξ€Ÿξ€Œ ξ€–ξ€“ξ€Ÿξ€”ξ€ ξ€œξ€“ξ€Ÿ ξ€—ξ€žξ€ ξ€žξ€ξ€Žξ€žξ€ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€› ξ€ξ€Ÿξ€Žξ€—ξ€ξ€ξ‚Ž  ξ€—ξ€”ξ€”ξ€˜ξ€‘ξ€•ξ€ξ€› ξ€–ξ€Ÿ ξ€“ξ€Ÿξ€ξ€žξ€ξ‚Ž
ξ€žξ€—ξ€–ξ€ξ€”β€”Dξ€˜ξ€”ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€•ξ€Žξ€– ξ€žξ€ξ€‘ξ€˜ξ€‹ξ€ ξ€Ÿξ€Œ   Vξ€˜ξ€ξ€•ξ€•ξ€— Cξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€™ξ€ξ€•ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• ξ€Ÿξ€• Dξ€˜ξ€’ξ€ξ€Ÿξ€‹ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ž Rξ€ξ€ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€”,
1961, ξ€œξ€“ξ€˜ξ€Žξ€“ ξ€—ξ€’ξ€’ξ€ξ€˜ξ€ξ€” ξ€–ξ€Ÿ   ξ€–ξ€“ξ€ξ€˜ξ€ž ξ€›ξ€˜ξ€’ξ€ξ€Ÿξ€‹ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ž ξ€’ξ€ξ€žξ€”ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€•ξ€ξ€β€”I ξ€–ξ€ξ€žξ€•ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•-
 ξ€–ξ€žξ€ξ€—ξ€–ξ‚Ž ξ€Ÿξ€šξ€ξ€˜ξ€‘ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€” ξ€‹ξ€—ξ‚Ž ξ€•ξ€Ÿξ€– ξ€šξ€ ξ€›ξ€˜ξ€‹ξ€˜ξ€•ξ€˜ξ€”ξ€“ξ€ξ€› ξ€Ÿξ€• ξ€šξ€—ξ€”ξ€˜ξ€” ξ€Ÿξ€Œ ξ€•ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€—ξ€ ξ€ξ€ξ€‘ξ€˜ξ€”ξ€ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•
ξ‚ˆe Legal Counsel of t he UnitedNations presents her compliments to the Minister for
Foreign Aξ‚Šairs of [State] and has the honour to refer to the ongoing negotiations be tween
the [UnitedNations entity] and [State] for the establishment of a [UnitedNations entity]
oξ€ˆce in [State].
In this regard, the Legal Counsel understands that several meetings have taken
place between oξ€ˆcials of [UnitedNations entity] and t he authorities of [State] to discuss
the establishment of the [United Nations entity] oξ€ˆce, including informal discussions
with [Name], the Permanent Representative of [State] to the UnitedNations in [City] on
[date], as well as meetings on [dates] with various individuals in the Ministry of Foreign
Aξ‚Šairs in [City], including (i) [Name] and [Name] from [Oξ€ˆce], (ii) [Name], the [Title]
of [Oξ€ˆce], (iii) [Name], [Title] of [Oξ€ˆce], (iv) [Name] from [Oξ€ˆce] and (v) [Name], the
[Title] of[Oξ€ˆce].
The Legal Counsel further underst ands, based on these meetings, that the
Government of [State] has taken the position that privileges and immunities may not be
extended to members of the [UnitedNations entity] oξ€ˆce who are nationals of [State]. ξ‚ˆe
Legal Counsel w ishes to note that the Government’s position is in direct contradiction
* ξ‚ˆis chapter cont ains legal opinions and ot her similar legal memor anda and documents.
      
to its obligations to the UnitedNations under international law and the Legal Counsel
respectfu lly requests that the Government of [State] reconsider its position.
ξ‚ˆe Legal Counsel w ishes to point out that as a member of the UnitedNations, [State]
is bound by the Charter of t he UnitedNations. ξ‚ˆe status of the UnitedNations and its staξ‚Š
members in [State] is governed by Article 105 of the UnitedNations Charter. Pursua nt to
paragraph 1 of Art icle 105 of the Charter of the UnitedNations, β€œ[t]he Organization sha ll
enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such priv ileges and immunities as are neces-
sary for the fu llment of its purposes.” Paragraph 2 of Article 105 of the UnitedNations
Charter provides that β€œ[r]epresentatives of the Members of the UnitedNations and oξ€ˆcials
of the Organization shall simila rly enjoy such privileges and immunities as are neces-
sary for the independent exercise of t heir functions in connection w ith the Organization”.
Finally, paragraph 3 of Ar ticle 105 stipulates that β€œ[t]he General Assembly may make rec-
ommendations with a view to determining the det ails of the application of par agraph 1
… of this Article or may propose conventions to the Members of the UnitedNations for
this purpose.”
In order to give eξ‚Šect to Article 105 of the UnitedNations Char ter, the General
Assembly of the UnitedNations adopted the Convention on the Privi leges and Immunities
of the UnitedNations, 1946 (β€œthe General Convention”),* which was acceded to by [State]
on [date], without reservation. As an integra l part of the UnitedNations, [UnitedNations
entity] is entitled to the privi leges and immunities provided for in the Genera l Convention.
ξ‚ˆe Legal Counsel w ishes to note that the legal regime governing the privi leges and
immunities of the UnitedNations and its oξ€ˆcia ls is separate and distinc t from the regime
governing the privi leges and immunities enjoyed by States and their diplomatic personnel
as codied in t he Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.** Accordingly, when consid-
ering the status of UnitedNations oξ€ˆcia ls who are national staξ‚Š, reference must be made
to the provisions of the General Convention and relevant General Assembly resolutions
and not to practice under the Vienna C onvention on Diplomatic Relations.
Pursuant to art icle V, section 18, subparagraph (b) of the General Convention, of-
cials of the UnitedNations are entit led to a various range of privileges and immunit ies,
including immunit y from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and a ll acts
performed by them in their oξ€ˆcial capacity as well as immunity from nationa l service
obligations. In setti ng forth these privileges and immunities, the General Assembly did
not diξ‚Šerentiate between internationa lly recruited sta ξ‚Š and nationally recru ited staξ‚Š. It
should be noted in this rega rd that General Assembly resolution 76 (I) specical ly provides
for β€œthe granting of priv ileges and immunities referred to in Ar ticle V ... to all members of
the staξ‚Š of the UnitedNations, w ith the exception of those who are recruited loca lly and
are assigned to hourly rates”. ξ‚ˆerefore, locally-recruited sta ξ‚Š members from [State] who
are not assigned to hourly rates als o enjoy the privileges and immunities of a rticle V of the
General Convention.
ξ‚ˆe Legal Counsel w ishes to point out that it is a fundamenta l principle of interna-
tional law that internationa l treaty obligations may not be diminished on the basis of t he
national legislation of [State]. According to article 27 of the Vien na Convention on the Law
* UnitedNations, Treaty Series, vol. 1, p. 15, and vol. 90, p. 327 (corrigendum to vol. 1).
** Ibid., vol. 500, p. 95.
ξ€Žξ€“ξ€—ξ€’ξ€–ξ€ξ€ž  
of Treaties, 1969,* which codies cu stomary international law applicable to international
treaties, β€œ[a] party may not invoke the provisions of its interna l law as justication for its
failure to perform a treat y.” ξ‚ˆis principle is also reξ‚‹ected in section 34 of the General
Convention, according to which the Government of [State] undertook an obligat ion to be
β€œin a position under its own law to give eξ‚Šect to the terms” of the General Convention.
Accordingly, the provisions of national legislat ion in [State] cannot be a basis for [State]
to fail to ful l its obligations which were committed to by the Government when [State]
acceded to the General C onvention.
If [State] could invoke its national legislation as a basis for not adher ing to the terms
of the General Convention, this wou ld not only place [State] in an unfair position vis-Γ -vis
other Member States party to t he General Convention, but would be an interpretation
of the General Convention that would not be wit hin the spirit of the u nderlying provi-
sions of the Charter of the United Nations, and in part icular, paragraph 2 of Ar ticle 2
and paragraphs 1 a nd 2 of Article 105 thereof. Moreover, if the 193 Member States of the
UnitedNations could generally i nvoke provisions of their national legislations as a basis
for failing to fu ll their obligations pursua nt to the Charter of the UnitedNations or other
international treaties , this would undermine the very e ssence of the principle of pacta sunt
servanda set forth in art icle 26 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, namely
that β€œevery treaty in force is bind ing upon the parties to it and must be performed by t hem
in good faith”.
ξ‚ˆe Legal Counsel t herefore respectfully requests t he Government of [State] to ensure
that the [UnitedNations entity] Oξ€ˆce Agreement guara ntees the privileges and immuni-
ties provided for under the General C onvention to oξ€ˆcials who are nationals of [State]. In
light of the importa nce of this matter, the Legal Counsel would be gratef ul if the relevant
representatives of the Government of [State] would attend a meeting wit h members of the
Oξ€ˆce of Legal Aξ‚Ša irs, at a mutually convenient time, to discuss t his matter further.
…
17 January 2013
(b) Note to the Ministry of Foreign Aξ€šai rs of [State], concerning privileges
and immunities enjoyed by certain categories of Unitedξ€ŸNations personnel
in [S tate]
Aξ€žξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Žξ€ξ€ 105 ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Cξ€“ξ€—ξ€žξ€–ξ€ξ€ž ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€›ξ€‰ Nξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€”β€”Aξ€žξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Žξ€ξ€ V ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Cξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€™ξ€ξ€•ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•
ξ€Ÿξ€•  Pξ€žξ€˜ξ€™ξ€˜ξ€ξ€ξ€‘ξ€ ξ€”  Iξ€‹ξ€‹ξ€ξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€ ξ€” ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€›ξ€‰Nξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€”β€”Gξ€ξ€•ξ€ξ€žξ€—ξ€ Aξ€”ξ€”ξ€ξ€‹ξ€šξ€ξ‚Ž ξ€žξ€ξ€”ξ€Ÿ-
ξ€ξ€ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• 76 (I)  ξ€Ÿξ€ξ€–  ξ€’ξ€ž ξ€˜ξ€™ξ€˜ξ€ξ€ξ€‘ξ€ξ€” ξ€—ξ€’ξ€’ξ€ξ€˜ξ€Žξ€—ξ€šξ€ξ€ ξ€–ξ€Ÿ  Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€›ξ€‰Nξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€” ξ€”ξ€–ξ€—ξ€Œξ€Œ ξ€ξ€ξ€Žξ€ξ€’ξ€–
ξ€–ξ€“ξ€Ÿξ€”ξ€ ξ€žξ€ξ€Žξ€žξ€ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€› ξ€ξ€Ÿξ€Žξ€—ξ€ξ€ξ‚Ž  ξ€—ξ€”ξ€”ξ€˜ξ€‘ξ€•ξ€ξ€› ξ€–ξ€Ÿ ξ€“ξ€Ÿξ€ξ€žξ€ξ‚Ž ξ€žξ€—ξ€–ξ€ξ€”β€”Gξ€ξ€•ξ€ξ€ž  Aξ€”ξ€”ξ€ξ€‹ξ€šξ€ξ‚Ž ξ€žξ€ξ€”ξ€Ÿ-
ξ€ξ€ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• 239 (III)β€”Sξ€–ξ€—ξ€Œξ€Œ A P  ξ€›ξ€ξ€”ξ€˜ξ€‘ξ€•ξ€ξ€› ξ€–ξ€Ÿ ξ€˜ξ€‹ξ€’ξ€Ÿξ€”ξ€ ξ€— ξ€›ξ€˜ξ€žξ€ξ€Žξ€– 
ξ€Ÿξ€• Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–ξ€ξ€›ξ€‰Nξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€” ξ€”ξ€–ξ€—ξ€Œξ€Œ ξ€‹ξ€ξ€‹ξ€šξ€ξ€žξ€” ξ€Žξ€Ÿξ€‹ξ€’ξ€—ξ€žξ€—ξ€šξ€ξ€ ξ€–ξ€Ÿ ξ€•ξ€—ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€—ξ€ ξ€˜ξ€•ξ€Žξ€Ÿξ€‹ξ€ —V
A T  ξ€–ξ€Ÿ ξ€šξ€ ξ€˜ξ€•ξ€›ξ€˜ξ€žξ€ξ€Žξ€–  ξ€” ξ€œξ€˜ξ€–ξ€“ξ€˜ξ€•  ξ€˜ξ€•ξ€‘ ξ€Ÿξ€Œ ξ€”ξ€ξ€Žξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• 8 ξ€Ÿξ€Œ  G-
ξ€ξ€žξ€—ξ€ Cξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€™ξ€ξ€• ξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€•β€”Rξ€ξ€”ξ€’ξ€Ÿξ€•ξ€”ξ€˜ξ€šξ€˜ξ€ξ€˜ξ€–ξ‚Ž ξ€Ÿξ€Œ S ξ€Œξ€Ÿξ€ž  ξ€”ξ€—ξ€Œξ€ξ€–ξ‚Ž  ξ€’ξ€žξ€Ÿξ€–ξ€ξ€Žξ€–ξ€˜ξ€Ÿξ€• ξ€Ÿξ€Œ Uξ€•ξ€˜ξ€–-
* UnitedNations, Treaty Series, vol. 1155, p. 331.

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