PRESS RELEASE : It is essential that UNITAD evidence retained by the United Nations remains fully accessible – UK statement at the UN Security Council [June 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 June 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on UNITAD.

President, as we approach the end of UNITAD’s mandate in September, it is important to reflect on what it has achieved over the past six years. This includes:

• The vast collection and digitisation of evidence of Daesh atrocities so that it can be meaningfully accessed and searched.
• Support for judicial proceedings in 20 jurisdictions, leading to 15 convictions.
• The excavation of mass graves, which has facilitated the return of remains to the families of victims.

This has been possible thanks to the close co-operation between the UNITAD team and the Iraqi authorities, as well as the brave and unwavering commitment of survivors to give their accounts and document the atrocities that occurred. It is the pursuit of justice for such heinous crimes which led the United Kingdom to support the establishment of UNITAD in 2017 with Iraq, and we believe there is more work to be done.

Looking ahead to the final few months of UNITAD’s mandate, we encourage the Special Adviser and the Government of Iraq to intensify co-operation to ensure the team’s closure is smooth and effective. We also encourage UNITAD to share evidence with Iraq wherever possible and to continue capacity building so that the Iraqi authorities are well-placed to continue accountability efforts after September.

It is also essential that UNITAD evidence retained by the United Nations remains fully accessible so that it can continue to contribute to prosecutions against members of Daesh for international crimes wherever they may be.

The United Kingdom does not see the closure of UNITAD as the end of the fight for accountability against Daesh. As we mark the tenth anniversary since acts of genocide were committed against the Yazidi people by Daesh, the United Kingdom remains committed to working closely with the Government of Iraq, the United Nations, and the Security Council to ensure justice for survivors both in Iraq and around the world.

I thank you.