The leader of the special UN Investigation Team probing crimes committed by ISIL terrorists in Iraq, said on Tuesday
that the courage being demonstrated by survivors coming forward “serves
to underline the urgency” they need to carry on with their work.
Karim Asad Ahmad Khan,
told the Security Council that the “experiences and needs of the
survivors of ISIL crimes, and the families of its victims”, were firmly
at the centre of UNITAD’s mission.
“All communities, whether Shabak, Kaka’i, Shia, Sunni, Christian,
Turkmen or Yazidi have suffered from the brutality and debased acts of
ISIL and all their voices must be heard in our efforts to hold those
responsible to account”, Mr. Khan said.
Having been up and running in Iraq for a year, tasked with promoting
accountability for the crimes committed by Da’esh during its years of
terror beginning in 2014, the team is now “fully operational” said the
Special Adviser, with a cohort of 107 staff members.
Presenting his third report, Mr. Khan said he had met tribal leaders,
family members and survivors, across the north, to hear their accounts
and “understand their personal experience of the scale and severity of
ISIL crimes.”
‘Immeasurable strength’ of women and girls
He described visiting camps for the internally-displaced in Dohuk,
only last week. “I was humbled by the immeasurable strength of the women
and girls I spoke to. Despite suffering abduction, enslavement and
unspeakable treatment, they were willing to reengage with these memories
in order to assist in holding their abusers to account.”
“It is our responsibility to honour their strength by delivering on
the promise…that those who inflicted their suffering will be held
accountable,” said Mr. Khan.
Key evidence collection has been completed in recent weeks. He cited
comprehensive three-dimensional laser scanning of crime scenes in the
Yazidi city of Sinjar; testimonials from Dohuk, and “the successful use
of social media crowdsourcing campaigns” to collect information on
suspected ISIL members, that have generated thousands of responses. DNA
profiles have also been retrieved from mass grave sites.
He said they now had a group of “primary investigative targets” for
all of their lines of investigation, identifying 160 different
perpetrators of attacks against the Yazidis in Sinjar alone.
‘Exemplary’ cooperation with Iraqi authorities
A relationship of mutual support and collaboration continues between
the team and national authorities, he added, describing Government
support as “exemplary”, including vital engagement with the judiciary.
He cited the national investigation and UN team investigations into the
massacre of unarmed Iraqi air force cadets at Tikrit Air Academy in
2014, saying “an excellent working relationship has been established”.
“Following the unanimous renewal of the mandate of the Investigative
Team at the request of the Government of Iraq in September this year, I
have been encouraged by our renewed common purpose in strengthening
modalities for cooperation” said Mr. Khan.
He underlined his “personal commitment” to ensuring the team’s work
with national authorities and the Kurdish Regional Government would
continue through mutual cooperation.
Our capacity to demonstrate continued value to Iraqi counterparts,
and the people of Iraq more broadly, will be essential if we are to
build on successes achieved to date”, he added. “Reflecting this, and in
line with the Terms of Reference, we have sought to make every effort
to share knowledge and technical assistance with national authorities in
order to support their investigation of crimes committed by ISIL in
line with international standards.”
‘Third State’ trials proceeding
He noted that cooperation by all investigators inside Iraq with
criminal proceedings going on in “third States” involving ISIL terrorist
suspects, was also bearing fruit.
“The Investigative Team has been formally approached by an additional
three States regarding the potential provision of support to ongoing
domestic proceedings concerning crimes committed by ISIL, with a number
of other States indicating that such assistance may be of value in
supporting their respective domestic prosecutions.”
With partnership at the core of the team’s success so far, the
Special Adviser said there must be a “broader bond” with the
international community also, for the benefit of all survivors. He
praised financial and personnel support offered so far by Australia,
Germany, Finland, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, United
Arab Emirates, the Philippines, Sweden and Uganda.
“The recent renewal of our mandate
represents a reaffirmation from this Council that it is not enough for
us to condemn the barbarity and depravity of ISIL. To deliver for
survivors, we must ensure that the individuals most responsible for
these crimes are personally held to account.”
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
Kachi
Amo Saloh (on screen), a member of Iraqi civil society, and a Yazidi
from Sinjar District who survived the mass executions in the village of
Kocho in August 2014, addresses the Security Council meeting on threats
to international peace and security
‘I survived by God’s will to be a witness’
Kachi Amo Saloh, a member of Iraqi civil society, and a Yazidi from
Sinjar who survived the mass executions in the village of Kocho,
recounted the horrific events of August 2014 when his village of
1,250 people was besieged and overwhelmed by Da’esh terrorists, their
possessions confiscated and men separated from the women.
The men were then killed in a mass shooting. “I survived by God’s
will to be a witness,” he said, describing how he escaped from a pile of
dead bodies that included three of his brothers, as well as nephews and
cousins.
His elderly step-mother had also been executed, along with more than
70 elderly women who were shot or buried alive, and his wife and
daughters taken to a slave market and sold. His three-month-old
daughter died of thirst and hunger and he was one of 19 who lived: “I
can still hear my wife and daughters screaming when the members of the
terrorist organization of Da’esh took them”.
Thanking the Security Council for creating UNITAD to establish
accountability for the crimes of Da’esh, he said that prosecuting those
responsible for their crimes is not enough. The international community
must also acknowledge that the crimes committed against the Yazidi
community amount to genocide. “I also hope that the Security Council
continues its support to the investigative team to establish a fair
mechanism for accountability to prevent similar crimes and genocides in
the future,” he stated.
For more on the meeting, and ambassadors’ speeches on the issue, go our Meetings Coverage Section, here.
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Turkey must ensure that an Irish woman and her
infant daughter who are being held in custody there are repatriated,
independent UN experts said in a statement released on Thursday. The
woman, Lisa Smith, has been described in press reports as a supporter of
the ISIL terror group, and former member of the Irish military.
Ten years ago, the UN Security Council
established a mandate to prevent and address the scourge of
conflict-related sexual violence. At a commemorative event on Wednesday,
the UN deputy chief described that commitment as essential to
“highlight, prevent and seek justice for this crime”.
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