SEVENTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE UNCC GOVERNING COUNCIL TO BE HELD FROM 30 APRIL TO 2 MAY

The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its seventy-fifth session from 30 April to 2 May 2013 under the Presidency of Ambassador Peter Woolcott (Permanent Representative of Australia). Delegations from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will address the Council at its opening plenary session.

During the session, the Governing Council will consider reports relating to the work of the Compensation Commission since the last session in November 2012. Discussions will be held on issues related to the Follow-up Programme for Environmental Awards established by the Council to monitor the technical and financial implementation of $4.3 billion awarded for environmental remediation and restoration projects; current levels of income and the arrangements for ensuring continued payments to the Compensation Fund; payment and audit related activities.

General background information on the work of the Compensation Commission is provided below.

A press release with information on the results of the seventy-fifth session will be issued on 2 May 2013.


Background

The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations Security Council. It was established in accordance with Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) and 692 (1991) to process claims and pay compensation for direct losses and damage suffered by individuals, corporations, Governments and international organizations as a direct result of Iraq’s unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait (2 August 1990 to 2 March 1991).

The Compensation Commission received approximately 2.7 million claims. The total asserted value of these claims (i.e., the amount sought by the claimants) was approximately $352.5 billion. Ninety-seven Governments filed claims on behalf of their nationals, corporations and themselves, and thirteen offices of three international organizations filed claims on behalf of individuals not in a position to submit their claims through a Government. Six categories of claims categories were established: claims of individuals for departure from Kuwait or Iraq (category A claims); claims of individuals for serious personal injury or death (category B claims); claims of individuals for losses up to $100,000 (category C claims); claims of individuals for losses over $100,000 (category D claims); claims of corporations, other private legal entities and public sector enterprises (category E claims); and claims of Governments and international organizations (category F claims). In June 2005, the Commission completed its processing of all submitted claims. The total compensation awarded was approximately $52.4 billion.

To date, the Compensation Commission has made available to Governments and international organizations approximately $41.2 billion for distribution to successful claimants in all categories. Funds to pay compensation are drawn from the United Nations Compensation Fund, which currently receives five per cent of the proceeds generated by the export sales of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products.


Further information about the Compensation Commission can be found on its website located at www.uncc.ch.



For use of the information media; not an official record

UNCC13/004E