Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Organization of American States

The Agreement defines the privileges and immunities conferred on the Organization of American States and its officials under the Charter.

The Organization and its Organs, their property and assets wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall enjoy immunity from every form of legal process except insofar as in any particular case the immunity has been expressly waived (Article 2).

The Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization, their spouses and minor children, shall be granted the privileges and immunities, exemptions and facilities granted to diplomatic envoys (Article 8).

The officials and other members of the staff be immune from legal process of any kind in respect of words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity (Article 10).

The Organization shall make provisions for appropriate modes of settlement of: a) disputes arising out of contracts or other disputes of a private law character to which the Pan American Union is a party; b) disputes involving any official or member of the staff of the Pan American Union with reference to which immunity is enjoyed, if immunity has not been waived by the Secretary General in accordance with Article 14 (Article 12).

Privileges and immunities are granted to officials and personnel of the Pan American Union in the interests of the Organization only. Consequently, the Secretary General shall waive the privileges and immunities of any official or member of the staff in any case where, in the judgment of the Secretary General, the exercise thereof would impede the course of justice and the waiver can be made without prejudice to the interests of the Organization. In the case of the Secretary General or of the Assistant Secretary General the Council of the Organization shall have the right to waive the immunity (Article 14).