A spokesperson for Germany’s Federal Foreign Office on Tuesday underlined that although the mission of the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by ISIS (UNITAD) will end today, Germany’s commitment to the criminal investigation of ISIS crimes continues.
“In collaboration with the Iraqi authorities, UNITAD has collected and digitized important evidence over several years regarding the crimes of ISIS. In particular, crimes against minorities such as the Yezidi community in Iraq have been documented. Thanks to the work of the UNITAD team, 68 mass graves have been identified and exhumed,” the German government spokesperson said.
?? wird sich auch nach dem Ende der UN-Mission weiter dafür engagieren, die Arbeit von #UNITAD zur Dokumentation & Beweissicherung der #IS-Verbrechen zu sichern, den Dialog mit der ?? Regierung fortzusetzen & die Aufarbeitung der Verbrechen voranzutreiben.https://t.co/QiZjI0bdpR
— Menschenrechtsbeauftragte Luise Amtsberg (@DEonHumanRights) September 17, 2024
“UNITAD has made its findings available to national courts worldwide for legal proceedings. In several German investigations led by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, cooperation with UNITAD was crucial for the conviction of the perpetrators. UNITAD has also strengthened the Iraqi judicial system through technical support.”
According to UNITAD, the team received 300 requests for assistance from 21 foreign states, aiding many ISIS-related national investigations and prosecutions. It also said at least 18 cases under investigation supported by UNITAD lead to indictments, and at least 15 cases ultimately ended in convictions.
“Germany will continue to engage in securing UNITAD’s work, maintaining dialogue with the Iraqi government, and advancing the investigation of ISIS crimes even after the end of the UN mission,” the spokesperson said.
UNITAD was established in 2017 with UN Security Council Resolution 2379 to investigate crimes by ISIS. Earlier this year, Iraq decided to end UNITAD’s mission by September, claiming the team had not provided enough evidence to Iraqi courts.
Read More: ISIS Committed Genocide Against Yezidis: UNITAD
Head of UNITAD Ana Peyro Llopis, in a final statement, said UNITAD had produced 19 case assessments and analytical reports that covered crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide committed by ISIS in Iraq against the Christian, Kaka’i, Shabak, Shi’a, Turkmen, Sunni, and Yezidi communities.
“These outputs have been shared with the competent Iraqi authorities along with underlying evidence that UNITAD produced.”
Statement by the Coalition for Just Reparations (#C4JR) Criminal Justice Working Group on the conclusion of #UNITAD’s mandate and message to the survivor communityhttps://t.co/fo5Hh9I4Q1
— Coalition for Just Reparations (@c4jrOrg) September 17, 2024
The Coalition for Just Reparations, an alliance of Iraqi non-governmental organizations, said in a statement that the end of the UNITAD mission “should be seen not as the end, but as the beginning of a renewed commitment to justice, one that involves stronger cooperation between the federal government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, international actors, civil society, and survivors.”
“This moment is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the progress made and to renew our commitment to ensuring that justice is served for all survivors.”
