Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations

PartiesTooltipParties with a link have a reservation.

Albania

02-07-1957

The People's Republic of Albania does not consider itself bound by the provisions of section 30, which provide that any difference arising out of the interpretation or application of the present Convention shall be brought before the International Court of Justice, whose opinion shall be accepted as decisive by the parties; with respect to the competence of the Court in disputes relating to the interpretation or application of the Convention, the People's Republic of Albania will continue to maintain, as it has heretofore, that in every individual case the agreement of all the parties to the dispute is required in order that the dispute may be laid before the International Court of Justice for a ruling.

Algeria

31-10-1963

The Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria does not consider itself bound by section 30 of the said Convention which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the case of differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention. It declares that, for the submission of a particular dispute to the International Court of Justice for settlement, the consent of all parties to the dispute is necessary in each case. This reservation also applies to the provision of the same section that the advisory opinion given by the International Court of Justice shall be accepted as decisive.

Armenia

29-04-2004

The Republic of Armenia hereby declares that the paragraph c of the Section 18 of the Convention shall not apply to the nationals of the Republic of Armenia.

Belarus

22-10-1953

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic does not consider itself bound by the provision of section 30 of the Convention which envisages the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court and, in regard to the competence of the International Court in differences arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic will, as hitherto, adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case. This reservation is equally applicable to the provisions contained in the same section, whereby the advisory opinion of the International Court shall be accepted as decisive.

Canada

22-01-1948

With the reservation that exemption from taxation imposed by any law in Canada on salaries and emoluments shall not extend to a Canadian citizen residing or ordinarily resident in Canada.

China

11-09-1979

The Government of the People's Republic of China has reservations on section 30, article VIII, of the Convention.

Indonesia

08-03-1972

Article 1 (b) section 1: The capacity of the United Nations to acquire and dispose of immovable property shall be exercised with due regard to national laws and regulations.
Article VIII, section 30: With regard to competence of the International Court of Justice in disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, the Government of Indonesia reserves the right to maintain that in every individual case the agreement of the parties to the dispute is required before the Court for a ruling.

Laos

24-11-1956

1. Laotian nationals domiciled or habitually resident in Laos shall not enjoy exemption from the taxation payable in Laos on salaries and income.
2. Laotian nationals who are officials of the United Nations shall not be immune from National Service obligations.

Lithuania

17-03-1997

The Government of the Republic of Lithuania has made the reservation in respect of article 1 (1) (b), that the United Nations shall not be entitled to acquire land in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, in view of the land regulations laid down by the article 47 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.
Explanation
Article 47 of the Constitution gives an exhaustive list of subjects who have the right to ownership over land plots. The provisions of article 47 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania do not entitle international intergovernmental organizations to own the plot of land.
It is important to note that the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania provide the right to the subjects, international intergovernmental organizations among others, to long-term land lease which might be up to 99 years. In accordance with procedural and administrative requirements of the national legislation, international intergovernmental organizations, for the effective performance of their obligations, may conclude agreements, acquire and dispose of necessary movable and immovable property and may institute legal proceedings.
[The Government of Lithuania] would like to emphasize that this reservation has a temporary character and in light of legal reform, changes in the current legislation are feasible.

Mexico

26-11-1962

(a) The United Nations and its organs shall not be entitled to acquire immovable property in Mexican territory, in view of the property regulations laid down by the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States.
(b) Officials and experts of the United Nations and its organs who are of Mexican nationality shall enjoy, in the exercise of their functions in Mexican territory, exclusively those privileges which are granted them by section 18, paragraphs (a), (d), (f) and (g) , and by section 22, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) respectively, of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, on the understanding that the inviolability established in the aforesaid section 22, paragraph (c) , shall be granted only for official papers and documents.

Nepal

28-09-1965

Subject to the reservation with regard to section 18 (c) of the Convention, that United Nations officials of Nepalese nationality shall not be exempt from service obligations applicable to them pursuant to Nepalese law; and
Subject to the reservation with regard to section 30 of the Convention, that any difference arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention to which Nepal is a party, shall be referred to the International Court of Justice only with the specific agreement of His Majesty's Government of Nepal.

Portugal

14-10-1998

The exemption established in paragraph (b) of section 18 shall not apply with respect to Portuguese Nationals and Residents in the Portuguese Territory which have not acquired this quality for the purpose of the exercise of their activity.

15-02-2018

Withdrawal of reservation to Section 18(b).

Qatar

26-09-2007

.....the State of Qatar has reservation on section (30) of article (8) of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 February 1946.

The State of Qatar does not consider itself bound by the provisions of section (30) of the aforementioned Convention which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the case of differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention, and declares that the consent of all the parties to the dispute is necessary for the submission of any particular dispute to the International Court of Justice for settlement.

Furthermore, the State of Qatar does not consider the advisory opinion given by the International Court of Justice shall be accepted as decisive as indicated in above-mentioned section (30).

Republic of Korea, the

09-04-1992

[The Government of the Republic of Korea declares] that the provision of paragraph (c) of section 18 of article V shall not apply with respect to Korean nationals.

Romania

05-07-1956

The Romanian People's Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of section 30 of the Convention which provide for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention; with respect to the competence of the International Court in such differences, the Romanian People's Republic takes the view that, for the purpose of the submission of any dispute whatsoever to the Court for a ruling, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case. This reservation is equally applicable to the provisions contained in the said section which stipulate that the advisory opinion of the International Court is to be accepted as decisive.

Russian Federation

22-09-1953

The Soviet Union does not consider itself bound by the provision of section 30 of the Convention which envisages the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court, and in regard to the competence of the International Court in differences arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention, the Soviet Union will, as hitherto, adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case. This reservation is equally applicable to the provision contained in the same section, whereby the advisory opinion of the International Court shall be accepted as decisive.

Saudi Arabia

03-09-2015

The Government of Saudi Arabia is not bound by the text of Section 30 of Article VIII.
On 1 February 2016 the Secretary-General received from the Government of Saudi Arabia the following clarification regarding the reservation to Article VIII, Section 30:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not consider itself bound by the provisions of Section 30 of the aforementioned Convention which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the case of differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention, and declares that the consent of the Parties to a given dispute is always necessary in order for the dispute to be referred to the [C]ourt for settlement. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not consider the advisory opinion given by the [I]nternational Court of Justice to be decisive in respect of differences that might arise between the United Nations and a Member State, as indicated in above-mentioned Section 30.

South Africa

30-08-2002

The Government of the Republic of South Africa does not consider itself bound by the provisions of Article II, Section 5 in so far as it relates to the buying, selling and holding of gold as certain limitations exist in the Republic regarding the buying, selling and holding of gold. Explanatory note: the buying, selling and holding of gold in the Republic is regulated. In terms of Exchange Control Regulation 2 no person other than an Authorised Dealer may buy or borrow any gold from, or sell to, any person not being an Authorised Dealer, unless exemption from Exchange Control Regulation 5 has been authorised (Mining Houses and Mining Producers may elect to sell their total gold holdings to the approved counter parties, including foreign counter parties, provided that the Exchange Control Department of the South African Reserve Bank has given the necessary exemption from the aforementioned regulation).
Pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article VIII, Section 30 of the Convention which provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case. This reservation is equally applicable to the provisions contained in the said section, which stipulate that the advisory opinion of the International Court is to be accepted as decisive.

Thailand

30-03-1956

Officials of the United Nations of Thai nationality shall not be immune from national service obligations.

Türkiye

22-08-1950

(a)The deferment, during service with the United Nations, of the second period of military service of Turkish nationals who occupy posts with the said Organization, will be arranged in accordance with the procedures provided in Military Law No. 1111, account being taken of their position as reserve officers or private soldiers, provided that they complete their previous military service as required under Article 6 of the above-mentioned Law, as reserve officers or private soldiers.
[…]
(e) Turkish nationals entrusted by the United Nations with a mission in Turkey as officials of the Organization are subject to the taxes payable by their fellow citizens. They must make an annual declaration of their salaries in accordance with the provisions set forth in chapter 4, section 2, of Law No. 5421 concerning income tax.

Ukraine

20-11-1953

The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic does not consider itself bound by the provision of section 30 of the Convention which envisages the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court and, in regard to the competence of the International Court in differences arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic will, as hitherto, adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case. This reservation is equally applicable to the provision contained in the same section, whereby the advisory opinion of the International Court shall be accepted as decisive.

United States of America

29-04-1970

(1) Paragraph (b) of section 18 regarding immunity from taxation and paragraph (c) of section 18 regarding immunity from national service obligations shall not apply with respect to United States nationals and aliens admitted for permanent residence.
(2) Nothing in article IV, regarding the privileges and immunities of representatives of Members, in article VI, regarding the privileges and immunities of United Nations officials, or in article VI, regarding the privileges and immunities of experts on missions for the United Nations, shall be construed to grant any person who has abused his privileges of residence by activities in the United States outside his official capacity exemption from the laws and regulations of the United States regarding the continued residence of aliens, provided that:
(a) No proceedings shall be instituted under such laws or regulations to require any such person to leave the United States except with the prior approval of the Secretary of State of the United States. Such approval shall be given only after consultation with the appropriate Member in the case of a representative of a Member (or member of his family) or with the Secretary-General in the case of any person referred to in articles V and VI;
(b) A representative of the Member concerned or the Secretary-General, as the case may be, shall have the right to appear in any such proceedings on behalf of the person against whom they are instituted;
(c) Persons who are entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities under the Convention shall not be required to leave the United States otherwise than in accordance with the customary procedure applicable to members of diplomatic missions accredited or notifie to the United States.

Venezuela

21-12-1998

[...] article I, section 1(b):
The acquisition of immovable property by the United Nations shall be subject to the condition set forth in the Constitution of the Republic of Venezuela and to the restrictions established by the law provided for therein.
[...] articles V and VI:
Venezuela hereby states that the proviso established in section 15 of article IV of this Convention shall also apply with respect to articles V and VI ejusdem.

Vietnam

06-04-1988

1. Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention shall be referred to the International Court of Justice for settlement only with the consent of all parties concerned.
2. The opinion of the International Court of Justice referred to in article VIII, section 30, shall be merely advisory and shall not be considered decisive without the consent of all parties concerned.