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U.S. court filing challenges UNRWA immunity; U.N. says agency is entitled to privileges under 1946 convention
Summary
A filing by the U.S. Department of Justice in the Southern District of New York asked a court to strip UNRWA of immunity; the U.N. said it will review the submission and maintain that UNRWA, as a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, is entitled to immunity under the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
U.S. prosecutors filed a submission in federal court in New York seeking to strip the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of its immunity, the briefing said. The U.N. said it has seen the filing and will review it carefully.
The U.N. restated its position that UNRWA is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly and, as such, is entitled to immunity under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (1946). The spokesman said the issue is currently before the federal district court in New York and that the U.N. will set out the basis for its position through its counsel and consider whether other action is appropriate.
Why it matters: A judicial stripping of immunity would have immediate legal and operational implications for UNRWA and could affect how U.N. entities are treated in litigation. The briefing did not announce any immediate operational changes by the U.N.
Details: The filing was described as a submission by the U.S. Department of Justice to the court in the Southern District of New York. The U.N. said it will review the submission and reiterated its long-standing position on the status of UNRWA.
Next steps: The U.N. said it will continue to set out its legal position to the court and will consider additional steps if appropriate. No court decision was reported at the briefing.
