IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF UN AGENCIES IN ETHIOPIA: PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE REMEDIES.

Ethiopia was founding members of UN and a host country for more than one hundred diplomatic missions including UN agencies. It was a party to the 1946 Convention on Immunities and Privileges of UN agencies which bares domestic Courts from exercising jurisdiction concerning disputes involving UN agencies. This creates a vacuum of alternative legal remedy available for Ethiopian citizens to seek justice in disputes that involve UN agencies. The inadqency of the Convention in settling abuses of immunities leads to violation of right to justice in Ethiopia. The problem initially arises due to the provisions of the Convention which provides immunity from any form legal process of domestic judicial jurisdiction. This gave room for rogue officials and staffs to engage in civil and criminal activities for private interests.Lack of judicial jurisdiction on immuned and privileged persons resulted in abuses of rights in Ethiopia. Due to lack of immunity act and absence of effective remedy to claimants, individual?s right violated because of unable to claim their right against illegal act done by persons enjoying immunity. This article attempt to explore problems related to implementation of immunities and privileges of UN agencies in Ethiopia and examine available remedies for individuals abused by immunities of UN agencies.