Foreign and Commonwealth Office – 2019 Press Release on UNITAD in Iraq

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 26/11/2019.

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on UNITAD.

I would like to begin by extending the United Kingdom’s condolences to France on the helicopter crash in Mali.

I wanted to put clearly on the record our support for the Special Advisor and for the work of UNITAD. As the French Representative just said, it’s vital that the Council continues to follow this very important issue closely. I think we all bear witness to Mr Kachi’s very somber and moving briefing today. It is a powerful reminder of the devastation that Daesh unleashed. And thank you for briefing the Council, Mr Kachi, but also my deepest sympathies and those of the United Kingdom for your suffering. I don’t think there’s a more compelling issue, question that we’ve heard this month of why the Council has important work to do than the story you told us. So thank you for that.

I’d like to add our voice to to thanking the government of Iraq. Their support continues to be instrumental to UNITAD’s ability to do its work and we welcome the steps the government has taken to introduce legislation to allow for the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes which may amount to genocide committed by Daesh.

Back to UNITAD, thank you for getting the organisation up and running. It was very good to hear that you are now fully operational and the impressive statistics about women parity along with the vital work that you’re doing on accountability on the ground.