News
United Nations facing lawsuit for causing Haiti cholera epidemic
In November 2011, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti filed a petition at UN headquarters in New York seeking a minimum of US$100,000 for the families or next-of-kin of each person killed by cholera and at least US$50,000 for each victim who suffered illness or injury from cholera.
Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky said in February of this year that the world body advised the representatives of the cholera victims that “the claims are not receivable pursuant to Section 29 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities.”
Under Section 29 the United Nations is required to make provisions for “appropriate modes of settlement” of private law disputes to which the world body is a party or disputes involving a UN official who enjoys diplomatic immunity.
The Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti said at the time it was disappointed by the UN decision and would pursue the case in court.
It was not immediately clear how the issue of diplomatic immunity for the United Nations would impact the lawsuit being filed in court.
Ban launched a US$2.2-billion initiative in December 2012 to stamp out cholera over the next decade in Haiti.
