Kazakhstan joins the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities

The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies now also applies to Kazakhstan. The Federal Foreign Office announced the extended scope of application on September 3, 2026; the announcement was published on September 9, 2026, in the Federal Law Gazette Part II No. 204.

The Convention, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 21, 1947, entered into force for Kazakhstan on August 14, 2026, pursuant to Article XI § 41 in conjunction with Article XI § 43. Consequently, the protection under international law for UN institutions extends to another state.

Scope of Application for Sixteen Specialized Agencies

The announcement lists the organizations to which Kazakhstan applies the Convention. In total, there are sixteen specialized agencies with their respective annexes and versions:

• International Labour Organization (ILO) – Annex I – dated September 14, 1948
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Annex II – (2nd revised version dated December 28, 1965)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – Annex III – dated August 11, 1948
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Annex IV – dated February 7, 1949
• International Monetary Fund (IMF) – Annex V – dated May 9, 1949
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) – Annex VI – dated April 29, 1949
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Annex VII – (3rd revised version dated July 25, 1958)
• Universal Postal Union (UPU) – Annex VIII – dated July 11, 1949
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – Annex IX – dated January 16, 1951
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – Annex XI – dated December 29, 1951
• International Finance Corporation (IFC) – Annex XIII – dated April 22, 1959
• International Development Association (IDA) – Annex XIV – dated February 15, 1962
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – Annex XV – dated October 19, 1977
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – Annex XVI – dated December 16, 1977
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – Annex XVII – dated September 15
• World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – Annex XVIII – dated July 30, 2008

Legal Basis and Procedure

The 1947 Convention regulates the privileges and immunities of the specialized agencies of the United Nations, including immunities, tax exemptions, and the inviolability of their premises. Annexes I to XVIII specify which organizations are covered and in which version.

The announcement follows the previous announcement of September 4, 2025 (BGBl. 2025 II No. 237). It was signed in Berlin by the Federal Foreign Office, on behalf of Dr. Julia Monar.

Significance for Readers

With the accession of Kazakhstan, the circle of states in which UN specialized agencies can rely on privileges and immunities secured under international law is expanding. For German authorities and companies collaborating with these organizations, the announcement serves as binding evidence of the expanded scope of application.

Source: Federal Law Gazette Part II, No. 204 of September 9, 2026, Announcement on the scope of application of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies of the United Nations, pp. 1–2 (official reference: BGBl. 2026 II No. 204).