US/UN Policy & Iraq: Who's Paying the Price?

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For nearly ten years, Iraq has been under the most comprehensive sanctions regime in the history of the UN. Hans von Sponeck was responsible for administering the Oil-for-Food Program, which allows Iraq to sell oil to purchase humanitarian supplies. He resigned from the UN in protest at the harm that sanctions have inflicted on Iraqi society. His resignation has sparked worldwide discussion of the sanctions.In his first U.S. talk since his resignation, von Sponeck will discuss the effects of sanctions on Iraq?s social fabric, especially health and education. He will describe the ?deprofessionalizing? and ?deskilling? of educated Iraqis and the creation of a ?lost generation? of young Iraqis. He will argue that the UN must lift economic sanctions on Iraq so that disarmament issues can be pursued without harming civilians. Cosponsored with the Harvard Islamic Law Forum, Boston Mobilization for Survival and the Campaign for the Iraqi People.