Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations

The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, approved in 1946, establishes that the UN possesses legal personhood. This convention grants the UN, its officials, and member state delegations extensive immunities from the jurisdiction of countries where they are present. These immunities cover aspects such as freedom from legal processes concerning the UN's property and personnel. Special agreements, like the one between the UN and the United States, further define these privileges and immunities, particularly for the UN headquarters in New York City. This concept is part of the broader principle of extraterritoriality in international law, which exempts foreign states and international organizations from local jurisdiction.12