International organizations, their officials, and representatives of their member states enjoy certain privileges and immunities in order to carry out their functions.

Article 104 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that the Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfilment of its purposes. Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that the Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the fulfilment of its purposes and that representatives of the Members of the United Nations and officials of the Organization shall similarly enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Organization.

Consequently, the General Assembly by a Resolution adopted on the 13 February 1946, approved the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. Article V of the General Convention provides for privileges and immunities for officials and article VII provides for the issue of United Nations laissez-passers to officials.