Dear
Sir/Madam,
It is my pleasure to announce the much-awaited
launch of UNCTAD's
Investment Dispute Settlement Navigator,
the upgraded version of UNCTAD's earlier database on investor-State dispute
settlement (ISDS) cases.
What makes UNCTAD's ISDS Navigator unique?
The ISDS Navigator is:
• Comprehensive:
the world's most complete ISDS database containing information on 668
publicly known international arbitration cases
initiated by investors against States pursuant to international investment
agreements (IIAs).
• User-friendly
and inclusive: the use of the Navigator is free-of-charge, granting
access to ISDS information to a large number of stakeholders across countries;
the search functions are intuitive and easy to handle, allowing non-experts
to access key information.
• Data-rich:
a source of readily available statistical data on the main aspects of ISDS
cases (to view, click on the individual “Filters” below the Map).
• In-depth
and flexible: the “Advanced search” option allows tailoring searches
to your needs (e.g.search for all cases against a particular country
group, brought between 2010 and 2015, in which the amount claimed has exceeded
USD 1 billion).
• Detailed:
each case entry contains information on: legal basis (applicable treaty);
countries involved; short summary of the dispute; economic sector and subsector;
amounts claimed and awarded; breaches of IIA provisions alleged and found;
arbitrators serving on the tribunal; status/outcome of the arbitral proceedings;
decisions issued by tribunals (with links to texts); links to external
sources with information about the case, as well as other items.
• Regularly
updated and reliable: All data presented in the ISDS Navigator has
been compiled using a uniform methodology to ensure data comparability
(the 'methodological notes' are available on the site). The data has been
updated as of 1 September 2015. While every effort is made to keep information
in the ISDS Navigator up to date and complete, the material is provided
without any guarantees as to its accuracy or completeness.
Who can use the ISDS Navigator? The
database is freely available to all from UNCTAD's Investment
Policy Hub. It will be useful for country
officials, policymakers, representatives from the private sector, civil
society, law firms, arbitrators, academia, journalists and others with
an interest in investment dispute settlement.
Over the past year, our team has worked hard
to collect and verify information on ISDS cases from published arbitral
decisions and other available sources. We welcome any additional information
or clarifications on specific cases as well as suggestions to improve the
ISDS Navigator. Please contact us using the online contact form (“Report
new developments” button).
