News and Media

The Investigative Team concluded its mandate on 17 September 2024 pursuant to Security Council resolution 2697 (2023), and is no longer operational. This website captures its work and overall achievements. It is not updated.

Over the course of its mandate, the Investigative Team published a number of press releases and videos. Select press releases have been highlighted below, organized by the year in which they were published. Other press releases issued, but not included below, remain accessible through relevant social media platforms utilized by the Team. All videos have been archived on its YouTube page.

 

2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019

 

 

2024

 

Statement from the Acting Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD on the Conclusion of the UNITAD Mandate (16 September 2024)

UNITAD Shares Detailed Findings of International Crimes Committed against Christians by ISIL (Da’esh) (16 September 2024)

UNITAD and Iraq: Cooperation with Third States (15 September 2024)

UNITAD Publishes Findings on the Damage and Destruction of Iraq’s Cultural Heritage by ISIL (Da’esh) between June 2014 and August 2017 (15 September 2024)

UNITAD Publishes Findings on International Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) against Predominantly Shi’a Inmates of Badush Prison (14 September 2024)

UNITAD Shares Findings of International Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) against Members of the Albu Nimr Tribe (al-Anbar governorate) (14 September 2024)

UNITAD Publishes Detailed Findings of International Crimes, including Genocide, Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) against the Yazidi Community in Iraq (11 September 2024)

Acting Special Adviser Peyró Llopis Delivers Eight Reports on Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) During Her Final Meeting with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council (10 September 2024)

UNITAD Shares Findings of International Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) against Residents of Tikrit, al‑Dour, al-Alam and al-Dhuluiya (Salah al-Din) (2 September 2024)

UNITAD Archive Delivered to the United Nations Secretariat (30 August 2024)

UNITAD Delivers Four Investigative Reports on Crimes Committed by Da’esh (ISIL) to the Supreme Judicial Council (26 August 2024)

UNITAD Delivers Processed Information to Kurdistan Regional Government (25 August 2024)

UNITAD and Nineveh Court of Appeal Acknowledge Close Collaboration and Successful Completion of Digitization Project (15 August 2024)

UNITAD Delivers Milestone Results to the Supreme Judicial Council (12 August 2024)

UNITAD and Iraqi Authorities Conclude Excavations of a Complex Mass Grave Site near Tel Afar (8 August 2024)

Marking Ten Years on the Sinjar Attack: UNITAD Commemorates the Yazidi Genocide and Other International Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) Against the Yazidi Community (2 August 2024)

UNITAD Publishes Milestone Report on ISIL’s (Da'esh) Crimes in and around the Tikrit Presidential Palace Complex  (12 June 2024)

UNITAD Hands-Over to the Iraqi Judiciary a Milestone Report on ISIL’s (Da'esh) Crimes in and around the Tikrit Presidential Palace Complex (10 June 2024)

UNITAD Reflects on Legacy and Impact in the Final Phase of Its Mandate (6 June 2024)

UNSG António Guterres Announces the Appointment of Ana Peyró Llopis as Acting Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD (2 April 2024)

Sarah’s Journey in Rebuilding Hope and Justice with UNITAD's E-Discovery Review Team (9 March 2024)

A Triumph for Accountability Efforts: How Iraq and UNITAD supported Portugal’s First Conviction for International Crimes (2 March 2024)

UNITAD Hands-Over Landmark Case Assessment Report to the Iraqi Judiciary: Unveiling the Structure of ISIL's Bayt Al-Mal (12 February 2024)

Families Bid Solemn Farewell to Identified Yazidi Victims of ISIL Genocide in Sinjar (24 January 2024)

 

2023

UNITAD Publishes Milestone Report on Sexual Violence against Women and Girls Committed by ISIL in Iraq (2 December 2023)

UNITAD Hands-Over Landmark Investigative Report to the Iraqi Judiciary on ISIL’s Chemical Weapons Crimes in Iraq (31 October 2023)

Pursuing Justice and Equality through Technology (26 October 2023)

For the First Time in Iraq: Medico-Legal Directorate Forensic DNA Laboratory Works to Obtain ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation (26 October 2023)

International Experts Discuss with Iraqi Parliamentarians and Legal Experts Interplay between International and Domestic Criminal Law (12 September 2023)

In Pursuit of Justice: Investigating ISIL’s Crimes against Iraq’s Christians (1 September 2023)

UNITAD Welcomes German Court Conviction of ISIL Female Member for Aiding and Abetting Genocide Against Yazidis (25 June 2023)

UNITAD, Iraq, and India Co-Host Special Event at UNHQ: Da'esh/ISIL's Use of Chemical Weapons - A Global Threat (12 June 2023)

Hamadan: The Latest in UNITAD and Iraqi Authorities Joint Excavation and Investigation of ISIL Victim Mass Graves in Sinjar (28 March 2023)

UNITAD and Iraqi Officials Discuss Pathways to Accountability for ISIL’s International Crimes, and Launch Joint Working Group (6 March 2023)

Special Adviser Christian Ritscher Visits Taza Khurmatu and Meets Survivors of ISIL Chemical Attack (27 February 2023)

UNITAD Provides Specialist Technical Support for the Excavation of Mass Graves' Sites in Anbar (08 February 2023)

 

2022

First Special Event in the Arab Region for UNITAD Discusses ISIL’s Leadership Structure and the Role of Foreign Fighters (29 November 2022)

Introducing International Expertise towards Prosecuting ISIL’s International Crimes: Intensive Training Program for Iraqi Judges at the Nuremberg Academy (17 November 2022)

UNITAD: The Wellbeing of Victims and Survivors Comes First (8 September 2022)

UNITAD Releases a New Multimedia Video Analysis Constituting Evidence of Da’esh/ISIL Crimes against the Tikrit Air Academy Personnel (4 July 2022)

UNITAD, Iraq, and Finland Co-Host a Special Event at UNHQ: Presenting Investigations into ISIL’s Crimes Against the Tikrit Air Academy Personnel (15 June 2022)

Supported by OSAPG, UNITAD and UNDP: Iraqi Religious Leaders Renew their Commitment to Support Accountability for ISIL/Da’esh Crimes (18 May 2022)

UNITAD and Stanford University Conclude Seminar on Mainstreaming Trauma-Informed Approach to Investigations (1 May 2022)

UNITAD joins the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact

(21 April 2022)

UNITAD Welcomes Swedish Court Ruling of ISIL Woman Committing Grave Violations of International Law (6 March 2022)

UNITAD Presents Iraq’s Medical Legal Directorate an advanced Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) (18 February 2022)

Chief Justice Zidan and Special Adviser Ritscher Commend the Work of Iraqi Judges to hold ISIL Members Accountable for International Crimes (6 February 2022)

 

2021

Second Phase of the Return of Identified Yazidi Victims of ISIL is Concluded, Families Lay their Loved Ones to Rest (10 December 2021)

Governments of Iraq and Germany Join with UNITAD in Hosting Special Event: Ensuring Global Accountability for ISIL Financing (10 December 2021)

UNITAD Special Adviser Christian Ritscher Welcomes Landmark Genocide Conviction of ISIL Member (29 November 2021)

Iraqi Officials and UNITAD Announce a New Ceremony for the Return of Yazidi Remains, Call on Families to Provide DNA Samples to Increase Victim Identifications

(26 November 2021)

Iraqi Authorities, in Cooperation with UNITAD, Complete the Excavation of a Mass Grave Site of ISIL Victims in Anbar (7 October 2021)

Secretary-General Appoints Christian Ritscher of Germany to Head Team Investigating Islamic State Actions in Iraq (7 September 2021)

Training in Psychological First Aid for National NGOs and INGOs Staff (6 September 2021)

UNITAD Releases Two New Publications (23 May 2021)

Security Council Arria Formula Meeting Highlights UNITAD Approach as a Model for International Accountability Efforts (17 May 2021)

UNITAD Launches Multimedia Video Demonstrating Evidence of Crimes against Yazidi Community (12 May 2021)

UNITAD: New Office Opened in Erbil (21 April 2021)

UNITAD and the Government of Iraq: A Strong Partnership in the Pursuit of Justice and Accountability (20 April 2021)

UNITAD Continues National Capacity-Building Efforts: Donates Specialized Vehicles for Mass Grave Excavations (20 April 2021)

USG Nderitu and Special Adviser Khan Announce the Launch of the “Interfaith Dialogue Series” in Iraq (7 March 2021)

US Ambassador Teuller and UK Ambassador Hickey Visit UNITAD HQ (1 March 2021)

 

2020

UNITAD-NGO Dialogue Forum First Roundtable (15 December 2020)

International Outreach Event – Iraqi Officials Meet with Yazidi Community Representatives and NGOs (3 December 2020)

Government of Iraq Resumes Exhumation Activities; Opens Two New Yazidi Mass Graves from ISIL (28 October 2020)

Security Council Unanimously Extends UNITAD's Mandate (15 September 2020)

UNITAD Returns to Anbar (8 July 2020)

Five Tips for Professionals in Preventing/Combating Vicarious Trauma (27 June 2020)

Iraqi Religious Authorities Adopt Interfaith Statement on Victims of ISIL (9 March 2020)

UNITAD, DMI Underline Importance of Cooperation to Ensure Accountability (4 February 2020)

 

2019

Security Council Unanimously Extends Mandate of UNITAD (20 September 2019)

UNITAD Reports Strong Progress in First Half of 2019 (15 July 2019)

Iraqi PM Endorses UNITAD’s Iraqi Chief of National Engagement (13 May 2019)

Government of Iraq, UNITAD, United in Ongoing Exhumations in Sinjar, Iraq (31 March 2019)

UNITAD SA Karim A. A. Khan QC Addresses Global Coalition (6 February 2019)