Between June 2014 and December 2017, the terrorist group ISIL, also known as Da’esh, captured large swathes of territory in Iraq. During that time, its members grossly abused local populations forced to live under its control: abuses that rose to the level of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
It is crucial that these terrorists, particularly their leadership, be brought to justice, not only for the sake of accountability, but also because shining a light on ISIL atrocities in fair and transparent criminal proceedings will undermine the ideological underpinnings of the ISIL movement and help stop its spread.
That is why, in August 2017, the Government of Iraq called upon the international community to help ensure that ISIL members are held accountable for their crimes in Iraq. In response, the United Nations established the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL, or UNITAD.
Working with the government of Iraq, UNITAD collected evidence of ISIL atrocities. Among other work, they excavated 67 mass graves, digitized 18 million pages of ISIL-related paper records and extracted data from a sizable number of seized ISIL digital devices.
UNITAD’s mandate ends in September, said Ting Wu, United States Deputy Political Counselor at the UN, but “There is no disputing the importance of UNITAD’s work.”
“We are approaching the 10-year mark since Da’esh began committing genocide and crimes against humanity against groups in areas that were once under its control – including against the Yezidis, Christians, Kurds, Shia Muslims, and other minorities, as well as some Sunni Muslims. A decade later, these communities still seek justice.”
“The United States stands with them,” said Counselor Wu. “We believe accountability for these crimes will contribute to peace and security in Iraq and the region.”
“UNITAD provides wide-ranging support to Iraqi authorities. It builds the capacity of the Iraqi judicial system; facilitates mass grave being exhumed; collects evidence; engages victims’ families and survivors; and analyzes battlefield evidence to help identify perpetrators of atrocities and understand Da’esh’s structure and operations.”
“Perpetrators of grave international crimes should not escape justice,” said Counselor Wu. “United States urges members of [UN Security Council] to work together to ensure that we continue our collective efforts to deliver justice for the crimes of Da’esh. We stand ready to work with stakeholders to explore all options.”
Continuing Efforts to Hold ISIL Accountable
“We are approaching the 10-year mark since Da’esh began committing genocide and crimes against humanity against groups in areas that were once under its control. ... A decade later, these communities still seek justice.”
