Kindly note that the GFLCP has now been completed and that IOM can no longer accept claims, issue cheques or make new payments to beneficiaries.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is entering the final phase of two programmes which make compensation payments to former slaves, forced labourers and other victims of the Nazi regime.

All remaining payments from the programmes which began in 2001, must be made by 30 September 2006. This is when the entitlement of eligible victims and legal successors to receive a payment under either the German Forced Labour Compensation Programme (GFLCP), co-funded by the German Government and German industry, or the Holocaust Victim Assets Programme/Swiss Banks (HVAP), funded through a US$ 1.25 billion Swiss Banks Settlement Fund under the administration of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, expires.

According to the German Foundation Act and the mandate of the Court, IOM may not make any more payments after this date. In addition, all deadlines related to appeals and legal successors (heirs) that have not been met by 30 September 2006, will terminate on that date. This deadline is important for the following persons who should contact IOM immediately:

1. Victims or their legal successors who received a notification of receipt of their claims from IOM but have not yet received a decision because, for example, they have changed their name or address.
2. Legal successors of deceased victims who have received a Legal Successor Package and have so far not returned the requested information.
3. Legal successors of eligible deceased victims who have not informed IOM about the death. Failure to notify IOM within six months of the date of the death is legally considered to be a forfeiture of the claim.

No new claims for the GFLCP and the HVAP, which had a deadline of 31 December 2001, can be accepted.

All persons (claimants and legal successors) who submitted claims to IOM before the deadline of 31 December 2001 but who have not heard from IOM should contact IOM immediately and provide their claim numbers. If they do not contact IOM in time for the payment to be made in September 2006, potential payments will be forfeited.

Persons eligible for payment should do everything necessary to make it possible for IOM to make the payments before 30 September 2006.

Contact details for IOM Claims Programmes are:

P.O. Box 71
CH-1211 Geneva
Tel: +41-22-5928230
Fax: +41-22-7986150
E-mail: compensation@iom.int