Who we are | UNCC

Who we are

UNCC at a glance

     The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) was created in 1991 as a subsidiary organ of the UN Security Council with a mandate to process claims and pay compensation for losses and damage suffered as a direct result of Iraq’s unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait.

Governing Council

     The Governing Council was the organ of the Commission that set its policy within the framework of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. As such, it established the criteria for the compensability of claims, the rules and procedures for processing the claims, the guidelines for the administration and financing of the Compensation Fund and the procedures for the payment of compensation. The Governing Council reported regularly to the Security Council on the work of the Commission.

Commissioners

     The function of the Commissioners, who completed their work in June 2005, was to verify and evaluate claims, and in so doing, to determine whether the damages were suffered as a direct result of Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait. The Commissioners assessed the value of losses suffered by claimants and recommended compensation in reports to the Governing Council. 

Secretariat

     The Secretariat of the Compensation Commission was headed by the Executive Secretary who was appointed by the UN Secretary-General after consultation with the Governing Council.  Over the years, the staff of the Secretariat came from approximately 60 different countries and at the height of claims processing, the Secretariat was made up of approximately 300 lawyers, accountants, loss adjusters and information technology specialists.