The Security Council decided unanimously to extend the mandate of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by ISIS group in Iraq until 18 September 2021. In unanimously adopting resolution 2544 (2020), the Council took note of the request by Iraq in its September 16 letter (document S/2020/909).
It also decided that any further extension would be determined at the request of Iraq’s Government, or any other Government that has requested the team to collect evidence of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) on its territory, in accordance with resolution 2379 (2017), UN news centre reported. Special Adviser and Head of the Investigative Team, Karim Asad Ahmad Khan QC welcomed the unanimity of the Council’s decision as a demonstration of the continued collective will of the international community and the Government of Iraq to work side by side in the pursuit of justice and accountability for the victims and survivors of ISIS group’s crimes.
Expressing his appreciation for the continued support to the Government of Iraq for the mandate and work of the Team, the Special Adviser underlined the commitment of UNITAD to continue to work closely with Iraqi authorities in the implementation of its mandate.
Special Adviser Khan emphasised that “since the start of our work in Iraq in late 2018, the realisation of our mandate and the fulfilment of the promise made to survivors through Council resolution 2379 (2017) has relied on a unique partnership between our Team, Iraqi authorities, impacted communities and all States. I am delighted that, upon the request of the Government of Iraq, the Council has again underlined its unanimous support for this work, and I look forward to building on the progress made to date with our Iraqi counterparts in the coming year”.
Established through resolution 2379 (2017), the Investigative Team is mandated to support efforts to hold members of ISIS group accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity and Genocide they committed in Iraq.
