Agreement on the status of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

The Agreement, concluded between the United Nations and Lebanon on 15 December 1995, regulates the status of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In particular, it provides that UNIFIL, as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations, enjoys the status, privileges and immunities of the United Nations in accordance with the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

The Force Commander and such high-ranking members of UNIFIL as may be agreed upon with the Government shall have the status specified in sections 19 and 27 of the Convention, provided that the privileges and immunities therein referred to shall be those accorded to diplomatic envoys by international law.

Members of the United Nations Secretariat assigned to the civilian element to serve with UNIFIL remain officials of the United Nations entitled to the privileges and immunities of articles V and VII of the Convention.

Military observers and civilian personnel other than United Nations officials, assigned to UNIFIL, whose names are for the purpose notified to the Government by the Force Commander shall be considered as experts on mission within the meaning of article VI of the Convention.

All members of UNIFIL including locally recruited personnel shall be immune from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity. Such immunity shall continue even after they cease to be members of or employed by UNIFIL and after the expiration of the other provisions of the present Agreement. Military members of the military element of UNIFIL shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of their respective participating States in respect of any criminal offenses which may be committed by them in Lebanon.

The Agreement also provides a procedure for the settlement of disputes of private law and, in particular, disputes between UNIFIL and its staff members.