KRG Receives Large Amount of Data on ISIS Prosecution Proceedings from UNITAD

On Sunday, 25 August 2024, Dindar Zebari, Coordinator of International Advocacy in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met with Ana Peyró Llopis, Acting Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by ISIS (UNITAD).

The meeting focused on the implementation UNSCR 2697, the conclusion of UNITAD's mandate in Iraq, and the submission of evidence collected on crimes conducted by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).

The Coordinator of International Advocacy stated that UNITAD has handed a second set of documents to the KRG authorities in accordance with UNSCR 2697. The documents amount to 11.9 gigabytes of critical data and legal assessments relevant to the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed against Yazidi Kurds and other ethnic and religious minorities.

He thanked UNITAD for their technical support provided to the KRG, noting that their advanced equipment in digitising documents would help the KRG continue the process more effectively.

The UNITAD chief stated that on 11 July 2024, UNITAD had already transferred 45.95 gigabytes of encrypted documents and sensitive information that had been collected by UNITAD from the judiciary and other KRG institutions.

Zebari highlighted that the KRG remains committed to ongoing collaboration with UNITAD until the end of its mandate. He added that UNITAD has been instrumental in coordinating with other countries to obtain support for the post-mission period in coordination with the Kurdistan Region’s judicial and security institutions, as well as providing capacity-building workshops to train and enhance the skills of security personnel in witness protection.