The resignation of World Bank general counsel Ana Palacio who will step down mid-April has raised hopes that the Nordic Justice and Human Rights Trust Fund (JHRTF), announced in mid-2006 may now move forward (see Update 53). Palacio was appointed in June 2006 by former Bank president Paul Wolfowitz in a move seen as reward for Spain’s support for the US invasion of Iraq. During her time at the Bank, Palacio failed to move forward any human rights initiatives. In October 2007 Nordic countries were prepared to finalise the JHRTF, but new Bank president Robert Zoellick postponed the official signing.