Codification Division Publications: United Nations Legislative Series Codification Division Publications: United Nations Legislative Series

Book 10: Legislative Texts and Treaty Provisions Concerning the Legal Status, Privileges and Immunities of International Organizations (vol. I) (1959)

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Table of Contents Page
Introduction View PDF file
First Part: Legislative Texts View PDF file
Première partie. — Textes législatifs
  Australia:  
  (a) International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) Act 1948, No. 72 3
  (b) International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) Regulations (Statutory Rules 1959 No. 20) 4
  (c) Comments of the Department of Customs and Excise, The Attorney-General's Department and the Federal Taxation Office 5
  Austria:  
  (a) Note of 15 July 1959 received from the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations 8
  (b) Federal Act of 24 February 1954, as amended by Federal Act of 13 February 1957, on the granting of privileges and immunities to International Organizations 9
  Canada:  
  (a) Privileges and Immunites (United Nations) Act, Chap. 219, Revised Statutes of Canada 1952  10
  (b) Order-in-Council P.C. 3946 of October 1, 1947, concerning Canadian accession to the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations 11
  (c) Order-in-Council P.C. 1945 of April 4, 1952 – Revenue exemptions granted to the United Nations or its agents 13
  Colombia:  
  (a) Decree No. 1025 of 8 April 1959 regulating the imports covered by Article 2 (f) of Act No. 1 of 1959 15
  (b) Decree No. 1182 of 24 April 1959 17
  Cuba:  
    Note of 10 August 1959 received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba 18
  Denmark:  
  (a) Royal Ordinance of 18 January 1951 concerning exemption of International Organizations etc. from taxation 18
  (b) Circular of 12 June 1951 relating to Royal Order No. 18 of 18 January 1951 on tax exemption for International Organizations, etc. 20
  (c) Act No. 72 of 7 March 1952 concerning Privileges and Immunities of International Organizations, etc. 28
  (d) Royal Ordinance of 19 December 1957 concerning exemption from military duties of officials, etc. of international and similar Organizations 29
  (e) Customs Act No. 1 of 28 January 1959 30
  Ecuador:  
    Agreement of the Ministry of Finance No. 1364, 14 May 1956 31
  Finland:  
  (a) Act of 14 June 1958 respecting approval of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of the United Nations, and respecting privileges and immunities to be granted to various other International Organs 32
  (b) Order of 26 August 1958 respecting the bringing into force of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of the United Nations 32
  (c) Act of 14 June 1958 respecting the protection of the name and emblem of the United Nations 32
  Germany (Federal Republic of):  
    Act concerning the protection and facilitation of the work of the United Nations Commission in Germany, dated 4 April 1952 33
  Ghana:  
  (a) Diplomatic Privileges Ordinances Nos. 35 of 1947 and 5 of 1951 35
  (b) Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Orders 38
  (c) Customs (Consolidation and Amendment) Order, 1958 39
  Greece:  
  (a) Act No. 412/1947 concerning ratification of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations 40
  (b) Legislative Decree No. 2402/1953 concerning tax exemption of the head and the alien senior personnel of the Branch Office for Greece of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 40
  Guatemala:  
    Letter of 6 August 1959 received from the Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the United Nations 40
  Hongrie:  
  (a) Loi n° XVIII de 1937 concernant les règles de procédure portant sur l'exterritorialité et l'immunité personnelle 44
  (b) Loi III de 1951 portant sur l'instruction criminelle, modifiée et rédigée comme texte unique par la loi V de 1954 45
  (c) Loi III de 1952 portant sur la procédure civile, modifiée et rédigée comme texte unique par la loi VI de 1954 45
  (d) Décret n° 32/1955. M. T. du 8 juin 1955 portant sur la poursuite des infractions 45
  (e) Décret n° 6470-52/1950. P. M. du 31 décembre 1950 portant sur les taxes fiscales 45
  (f) Décret n° 10/1955. P.M. du Ministre des Finances et du Ministre du Commerce extérieur du 15 juin 1955, portant sur les infractions fiscales et douanières 46
  (g) Extrait du Décret du Ministre du Commerce extérieur n° 1/1956 (III. 17. K. K. M.) portant sur l'exécution du décret-loi n° 16 de 1954 sur le Règlement du droit douanier ainsi que du décret-loi n° 7 de 1955 sur la modification dudit décret-loi 46
  Israel:  
  (a) United Nations Immunities and Privileges Ordinance, No.27 of 1947 48
  (b) United Nations Immunities and Privileges Order, 1947 52
  Italie:  
    Note du 30 septembre 1959 reçue de la Mission permanente de l'Italie auprès des Nations Unies 52
  Japan:  
  (a) Customs Tariff Law (Law No. 54, April 15, 1910) 53
  (b) Law concerning collection of excise on imported goods (Law No. 37, June 30, 1955) 53
  (c) Order concerning control of departure from and entry into the country (Cabinet Order No. 319, October 4, 1951) 53
  (d) Order for the enforcement of the automobile compulsory liability Law (Cabinet Order No. 286, October 18, 1955) 54
  Korea (Republic of):  
    Note of 8 July 1959 received from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea 55
  Netherlands:  
    Note of 20 August 1959 received from the Acting Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations 55
  New Zealand:  
  (a) Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act 1957 No. 21 55
  (b) Diplomatic Privileges (United Nations) Order 1959 No. 51  65
  (c) Diplomatic Privileges (International Court of Justice) Order 1959 No. 61 67
  (d) Aliens Act 1948 No. 28 68
  (e) Aliens Regulations 1948 No. 214 68
  (f) Passports Act 1946 No. 10 69
  (g) Passport Regulations 1946 No. 196 69
  (h) Defamation Act 1954 No. 46 70
  Nicaragua:  
    Note of 19 June 1959 received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua 71
  Norway:  
  (a) Act of 19 June 1947 concerning immunities and privileges of International Organizations, etc. 72
  (b) Ministry of Finance and Customs. Circular to Customs Offices (F.D. Jnr. 1045/1950. B.4) respecting customs inspection of personal baggage belonging to representatives of members of the United Nations and related Specialized Agencies or to officials and experts travelling on missions for the United Nations and the said agencies 72
  (c) Ministry of Finance and Customs. Circular to Customs Offices (F.D. Jnr. 1446/1952, B.4). Re: Exemption from Customs Duties for United Nations Information Media 73
  (d) Regulations concerning the entry of aliens into Norway (Aliens Regulations). Laid down by the Ministry of Justice on 20 March 1957 and 18 April 1958 by virtue of the Crown Prince Regent Decree of 25 January 1957, Cf. Article 29 of the Act concerning the entry of aliens into Norway, etc. (Aliens Act) of 27 July 1956 74
  (e) Circular to Custom-Houses of 29 June, 1959 regarding the accession of Norway to the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials 76
  Pakistan:  
    United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act No. XX of 1948 76
  Peru:  
    Decree No. 69 of 18 February 1954 concerning the privileges granted by the Government to foreign diplomatic and consular agents and to officials of International Organizations and Agencies 77
  Poland:  
  I. Immunity from Jurisdiction and Inviolability of the Person and of Premises  
      Act of 2 December 1958 to amend the Act of 15 December 1951 concerning penal-administrative procedure 81
  II. Exemption from Taxes, Charges and Duties  
    (a) Act of 13 December 1957 concerning fiscal charges 82
    (b) Order of the Council of Ministers of 28 December 1957 specifying the items subject to fiscal charges, the amounts of such charges and exemptions 82
    (c) Order of the Minister of Foreign Trade of 11 April 1959 concerning export duties and export licences 89
    (d) Order of the Minister of Foreign Trade of 11 April 1959 concerning the exemption from customs duties of articles and goods imported and exported otherwise than in a planned trade programme 89
  III. Exemptions from Provisions Concerning Government Control of Premises  
      Housing Act of 30 January 1959 90
  IV. Provisions Relating to Motor Vehicles  
      Order of the Council of Ministers of 16 April 1957 amending the Order of 20 August 1955 concerning the use of certain motor vehicles 91
  V. Plant Protection Control  
      Order of the Minister of Agriculture of 28 March 1959 concerning quarantine of imported plants 91
  Suisse:  
  (a) Décision du Conseil fédéral suisse concernant l'octroi des privilèges et immunités diplomatiques à certains fonctionnaires de rang élevé de l'Office européen des Nations Unies, 30 décembre 1947 92
  (b) Décision du Conseil fédéral suisse concernant le statut juridique des délégations permanentes auprès de l'Office européen des Nations Unies ainsi que d'autres Organisations internationales ayant leur siège en Suisse, 31 mars 1948 92
  (c) Décision du Conseil fédéral suisse concernant les privilèges et immunités de la Cour internationale de Justice en Suisse, 30 avril 1948 93
  (d) Règlement douanier du 23 avril 1952 93
  (e) Arrêté fédéral concernant le statut juridique en Suisse de 'Organisation des Nations Unies, d'Institutions spécialisées des Nations Unies et d'autres organisations internationales, 29 septembre 1955  109
  (f) Arrêté fédéral concernant la conclusion ou la modification d'accords avec des Organisations internationales en vue de déterminer leur statut juridique en Suisse, 30 septembre 1955 110
  Sweden:  
  (a) Act of 10 July 1947 concerning special privileges for certain International Organizations, as amended by the Act of 4 June 1954 110
  (b) Act of 10 July 1947 concerning the protection of the emblem and name of the United Nations 112
  Thailand:  
    Act concerning the operation of the United Nations Organization and its Specialized Agencies in Thailand, B.E. 2498 (1955), as amended B.E. 2499 (1956) 112
  Union of South Africa:  
    Note 113
  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:  
  (a) Diplomatic Privileges (United Nations and International Court of Justice) Order in Council 1947 113
  (b) Diplomatic Privileges (United Nations and International Court ofJustice) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1949 118
  (c) International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) Act, 1950 119
  (d) Diplomatic Privileges (General Amendment) Order in Council, 1950 123
  (e) Diplomatic Immunities Restriction Act, 1955 (4 Eliz. 2 Ch. 21) 124
  (f) Finance Act, 1956 125
  (g) Copyright Act, 1956 126
  (h) British Nationality Act, 1958  126
  United States of America:  
  A. — Federal Laws, Regulations, etc.  
  1. Laws  
    (a) International Organizations Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669 (1945), 22 U.S.C. sec. 288 (1952)) 128
    (b) Joint resolution authorizing the President to bring into effect an agreement between the United States and the United Nations for the purpose of establishing the permanent headquarters of the United Nations in the United States and authorizing the taking of measures necessary to facilitate compliance with the provisions of such agreement, and for other purposes, approved August 4, 1947 134
  2. Executive Orders and Administrative Regulations  
    (a) Executive Order No. 9698, 11 Fed. Reg. 1809 (1946), designating public international organizations entitled to enjoy certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities, as amended by Executive Order No. 10083, 14 Fed. Reg. 6161 (1949) 136
    (b) Executive Order No. 10292 amending the selective service regulations (16 Fed. Reg. 9862 (1951)),as amended by Executive Order No. 10659 (21 Fed. Reg. 1103 (1956)) 136
    (c) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 26. – Internal Revenue, 1954 (Revised as of January 1, 1959) 137
    (d) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 19. – Customs Duties (Revised 1953) 142
  3. Opinions of the Attorney-General  
    (a) Vol. 41, Op. No. 25 (1953). Immigrant Status — Effect of waiving of privileges by immigrant alien employees of International Organizations and Foreign Missions 145
    (b) Vol. 41, Op. No. 27 (1954). Immigrant Status — Waiving of privileges by immigrant alien employees of International' Organizations and Foreign Missions not applicable to benefits derived from treaties 150
  B. State of New York  
  1. Laws  
    (a) An Act to amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York, so as to authorize the City of New York to convey certain real property in the City of New York to United Nations, to acquire real property for such purposes, to re-locate dwellings and tenants and to control advertising signs in the vicinity of United Nations Headquarters, effective February 27, 1947 152
    (b) An Act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to exempting from taxation the real property used for headquarters of United Nations or of any world-wide International Organization established to accomplish the same purposes by the same laws, effective February 27, 1947 154
    (c) An Act to amend the State Law, in relation to authorizing the United Nations to acquire land for its uses and purposes and providing for the cession of jurisdiction by the State as to such land when used for the headquarters of United Nations, effective February 27, 1947  155
    (d) An Act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to the exemption of compensation of certain employees of International Organizations from taxation and from withholding of tax, effective April 9, 1947 156
    (e) An Act to amend the Tax Law, in relation to granting exemptions to the United Nations from excise or sales taxes imposed by the State upon the sale of tangible personal property, effective April 3, 1948 157
    (f) An Act authorizing and empowering counties and cities which shall have imposed taxes upon sales of tangible personal property under and pursuant to any general or special law, to exclude from the provisions of the law imposing the tax, sales of tangible personal property thereafter made to the United Nations or other worldwide Organization or in lieu thereof to provide for the refund of any such taxes thereafter paid, effective April 3, 1948 158
  2. Opinions of the Attorney-General of the State of New York  
    (a) Opinions of January 29, 1946 concerning the acquisition by the United Nations of a site within the State of New York in relation to State Legislation 159
    (b) Opinion of March 1, 1948 concerning immunity from arrest and conviction for crimes and traffic infractions 160
    (c) Opinion of October 26, 1951 concerning applicability of State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law to the United Nations and its Headquarters District 165
    (d) Opinion of January 7, 1957 concerning the exemption of certain non-U.S. nationals employed by the United Nations from the payment of New York State Income Tax 168
  3. Ruling of New York State, Department of Taxation and Finance  
      Ruling dated March 10, 1948, concluding that certain members of delegations to the United Nations are entitled to exemption from taxation under Articles 12-A and 18 of New York State Tax Law 171
  C. — City of New York  
  1. Law  
      Local Law No. 90 of 1948 amending subdivision (b) of section N 41-2-0 of the administrative code of the City of New York concerning exemption of excise or sales tax 172
  2. Ruling  
      Letter of March 22, 1948 from the Deputy Mayor concerning the exemption from the New York City hotel, compensating use and sales taxes of delegation members entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities 172
  Venezuela:  
    Note  173
  Yugoslavia:  
    Memorandum regarding the legal status of International Organizations in the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia 173
  I. The United Nations and Specialized Agencies of the United Nations  173
  II. Other Intergovernmental Organizations 173
  III. General Yugoslav Legal Provisions on the Privileges and Immunities of Intergovernmental Organizations  
  A. — Immunity with regard to matters pertaining to criminal law  
    (a) Criminal Code. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 30/59 174
    (b) Law on criminal proceedings. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 40/1953 175
    (c) Basic Law on infractions. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 2/1959 175
  B. — Immunity in civil legal suits  
      Law on civil proceedings. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 4/1957 175
  C. — Fiscal immunity  
    (a) Customs Law. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 24/1959 175
    (b) Law on tax on inheritance and tax on grants, Official Gazette of the FPR2, No. 19/1955 176
    (c) Law on the contribution to budgets from the personal income of workers. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 52/1957 176
    (d) Basic Law on municipal rates and local taxes. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 19/1955  177
    (e) Law on tax on the personal income of citizens. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 52/1958 178
    (f) Law on administrative taxes. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 28/1959 178
  D. — Other privileges  
    (a) Law on the health insurance of workers and office employees. Official Gazette oftheFPR2 , No. 51/54  178
    (b) Law on the purchase and sale of building lots and houses. Official Gazette of the FPR2, No. 26/1954 179
    (c) Law on the nationalization of dwellings and building lots. Official Gazette of the FPR 2, No. 52/1958 179
    (d) Law amending and supplementing the law on the competences of People's Committees, Communes and Districts. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 52/1957 179
    (e) Law on housing relationships. Official Gazette of the FPRY, No. 16/1959 179
Second Part: Treaty Provisions View PDF file
Deuxième partie. — Dispositions de traités
  1. Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice:  
    (a) Charter of the United Nations 183
    (b) Statute of the International Court of Justice  183
  2. Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13 February 1946  184
  3. Echange de lettres constatant un Accord entre la Cour internationale de Justice et les Pays-Bas se rapportant aux privilèges en immunités des membres de la Cour internationale de Justice, du greffier, des fonctionnaires du greffe, des assesseurs, des agents et conseils des parties, ainsi que des témoins et experts. La Haye, le 26 juin 1946 193
  4. Interim Arrangement on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations concluded between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Swiss Federal Council. Signed at Bern on 11 June 1946, and at New York on 1 July 1946 196
  5. Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the headquarters of the United Nations. Signed at Lake Success, on 26 June 1947 204
  6. Agreement between the Government of Chile and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America regulating conditions for the operation in Chile of the headquarters of the Commission. Signed at Santiago, on 16 February 1953 217
  7. Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Thailand relating to the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in Thailand. Signed at Geneva, on 26 May 1954 224
  8. Agreement between the United Nations and Ethiopia regarding the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Signed at Addis Ababa on 18 June 1958 232
  9. Exchange of letters concerning the privileges and immunities of the United Nations Commissioner in Libya, between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the permanent representatives of the United Kingdom and France, 12 and 20 January 1950 237
  10. Exchange of letters concerning the privileges and immunities of the United Nations Commission for Indonesia, between the Prime Minister of Indonesia and the principal secretary of the Commission, 23 May 1950 239
  11. Accord entre le Gouvernement du Royaume d'Egypte et l'Office de secours et de travaux des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés de Palestine dans le Proche-Orient. Signé à Alexandrie, le 12 septembre 1950 240
  12. Agreement between the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of the Jordan and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Signed on 14 March and 20 August 1951 244
  13. Echange de notes constituant un arrangement global entre l'Office de secours et de travaux des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés de Palestine dans le Proche-Orient et la République libanaise. Beyrouth, 26 novembre 1954 249
  14. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between Israel and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees concerning assistance to Palestine Refugees in the Gaza Strip. Israel and Beirut, 9 November 1956 253
  15. Trusteeship Agreement for the territory of Somaliland under Italian administration, approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 2 December 1950 255
  16. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and Korea regarding privileges and immunities to be enjoyed by the United Nations in the Republic of Korea. Pusan, 21 September 1951 256
  17. Agreement between the United Nations and the Republic of Korea for the establishment and maintenance of a United Nations memorial cemetery in Korea. Signed at New York on 6 November 1959 259
  18. Agreement between the United Nations and Japan on privileges and immunities of the United Nations. Signed at Tokyo, on 25 July 1952 266
  19. Agreement regarding the status of the United Nations forces in Japan. Done at Tokyo, on 19 February 1954 268
  20. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Egypt concerning the status of the United Nations Emergency Force in Eypt. New York, 8 February 1957 295
  21. Exchange of letters constituting a provisional arrangement between the United Nations and Lebanon concerning the United Nations Emergency Force leave centre in Lebanon. Beirut, 20 and 29 April and 1 May 1957 306
  22. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and Finland concerning the service with the United Nations Emergency Force of national contingent provided by the Government of Finland. New York, 21 and 27June 1957  310
  23. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and Lebanon concerning the establishment and operation by the United Nations Emergency Force of a transit unit at the Beirut International Airport. Gaza, 21 December 1957, and Beirut, 20 January 1958  321
  24. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and Lebanon concerning the United Nations Emergency Force postal arrangements. Gaza, 21 December 1957 and 5 February 1958, and Beirut, 20 January 1958 323
  25. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Egypt regarding the clearance of the Suez Canal. New York, 8 January 1957 328
  26. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and Lebanon concerning the status of the United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon. New York, 13 June 1958 330
  27. Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the United Nations and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan concerning arrangements for the stationing in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan of a subsidiary organ of the United Nations under the charge of a special representative of the Secretary-General. Amman, 8 and 18 November 1958  333
  28. Exchange of letters between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon concerning privileges and immunities to be applied by the Government of Lebanon to the 1949 session of the Commission on the Status of Women at Beirut, 17 January and 15 February 1949 336
  29. Exchange of letters between the permanent representative of Uruguay and the Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning privileges and immunities to be accorded by the Government of Uruguay to the sessions in Montevideo of the Subcommission on Freedom of Information and of the Press, and of the Economic Commission for Latin America. Montevideo, 19 April 1950, and New York, 5 May 1950  339
  30. Memorandum of Agreement between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Government of Chile concerning facilities, privileges and immunities to be accorded by the Government of Chile to the twelfth session of the Economic and Social Council in Santiago, 30 January 1951 342
  31. Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of the United Mexican States regarding the arrangements for the holding of the fourth session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America in Mexico. Signed at Mexico, on 20 May 1951 344
  32. Echange de lettres constituant un Accord entre l'Organisation des Nations Unies et la France relatif à la tenue de la sixième session de l'Assemblée générale des Nations Unies a Paris. Paris, 17 août 1951  347
  33. Agreement between the United Nations and Brazil concerning a Latin American seminar on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders to be held in Brazil. Signed at Rio de Janeiro, on 4 August 1952 361
  34. Model text of Agreement concerning the activities of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund 361
  35. Model text of basic Agreement concerning technical assistance between the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Health Organization and the Government of _______ 369
  36. Model text of revised standard Agreement concerning technical assistance between the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunication Union and the World Meteorological Organization and the Government of _______   374
  37. Model text of Agreement between the United Nations Special Fund and the Government of _______ concerning assistance from the United Nations Special Fund 377
  38. Model text of Agreement governing the provision of experts in response to governments' requests for operational or executive personnel between the United Nations and the Government of _______   379
Subject Index View PDF file