International Trade Law News

The Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) today issued its final report on the overall management and oversight of the U.N.'s Oil for Food Program. The report states that while the program "accomplished many vital goals in Iraq", including "reversing a serious and deteriorating food crisis, preventing widespread hunger and probably reducing deaths due to malnutrition" at the same time " things went wrong, damaging the reputation and credibility of the United Nations." With respect to the program as a whole, the IIC's central conclusion is that the U.N. requires stronger executive leadership, thorough administrative reform and more reliable controls and auditing.