United Nations Administrative Tribunal

Overview

The United Nations Administrative Tribunal (UNAT) was established in 1950 by the General Assembly, for the purpose of resolving employment-related disputes between United Nations staff and the Organization. It is the highest appeals body in the internal administration of justice system and the only body that issues binding judgements. The Tribunal is an independent organ, composed of seven members, no two of whom may be nationals of the same State. The members hear cases in panels of three, their terms of appointment are four years, and they may be reappointed once.

The competence of the Tribunal extends to the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (including cases from all specialized agencies that participate in the Fund, even though they may fall under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Tribunal of the ILO for all other disputes), the United Nations Programmes and Funds, such specialized agencies and related organizations that have accepted the competence of the Tribunal (the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization), the staff of the Registries of the International Court of Justice, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and the staff of the International Seabed Authority.

The Tribunal holds two sessions a year, one in Geneva (summer) and one in New York (autumn), each for a five-week period. It renders approximately 60 judgments per year. To date, the Tribunal has issued more than 1400 judgments.