GOI & KRG Agree on Centralized Database for Information

Baghdad, Iraq: The Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team for the Accountability of Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) Karim A. A. Khan QC today moderated a meeting in Erbil between the Ministry of Martyrs’ and Anfal Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Medico Legal Directorate and the Mass Grave Directorate of the Martyrs’ Foundation of the Republic of Iraq. The Parties signed a Framework Agreement to centralise information collected from the families of victims of Da’esh, including blood samples, which are essential in the effective identification of victims exhumed from mass graves. The initial stage of the centralisation, which consists of the transfer of blood samples and completed forms, will be completed by the end of February 2019. The parties also agreed to establish a joint technical committee in order to facilitate ever-closer cooperation between the KRG authorities and Central Government on matters relating to mass graves exhumations, and subsequent analysis. The Special Adviser stated: “Both the Government of Iraq and the KRG authorities are to be applauded for concluding this Framework Agreement which will help to ensure the best chance of identifying and returning the remains of Da’esh victims to their families. Moreover, this process will contribute to an effective criminal investigation, as outlined in UNITAD’s mandate”.