Audit Report Finds no Fraud or Dishonest Acts in WIPO

Geneva, December 13, 2005
Press Releases PR/2005/433

AUDIT REPORT FINDS NO FRAUD OR DISHONEST ACTS IN WIPO

Ernst & Young, the international audit and consultancy firm, has submitted its report to the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris. The firm was requested by the Director General last September to conduct an independent external review, under the supervision of WIPO's External Auditor, the Swiss Federal Audit Office, into allegations concerning WIPO.

While the report makes a number of recommendations to the Organization, it does not support any of the allegations made in the news media. The report makes absolutely clear that "we cannot conclude that certain employees of WIPO and third parties concerned might have committed any fraud or dishonest acts." The report suggests that the recommendations of the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit on practices in respect of staff matters and the External Auditor's recommendations on project management should be implemented.

The WIPO secretariat has already implemented most of the relevant recommendations made by the Joint Inspection Unit and the External Auditor, as reported to the WIPO member states at their annual meetings in September-October 2005.

This report brings to an end the recent allegations and unfounded attacks on the Organization that have appeared in a few news media.

The report is being distributed today to all WIPO member states for information.