US Ambassador Teuller and UK Ambassador Hickey visit UNITAD HQ

Baghdad, March 1, 2021 – Special Adviser Karim A. A. Khan QC welcomed H.E. Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller, Ambassador of the United States to Iraq and H.E. Ambassador Stephen Hickey, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Iraq at UNITAD Headquarters in Baghdad.

Ambassador Tueller and Ambassador Hickey were given a tour of UNITAD’s Headquarters, including the state-of-the-art forensic laboratory, and a demonstration of some of UNITAD’s cutting edge evidence intake and analysis technology.  

Special Adviser Khan thanked the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for their generous support of UNITAD, which demonstrated their commitment to the rule of law and ensuring that Da’esh members are held accountable for the crimes committed, and that justice is served to the victims.

“UNITAD’s facilities and systems became operational as soon as they did in significant part to the generous funding provided by the United Kingdom upon Security Council Resolution 2379 being passed. The United Kingdom has demonstrated unwavering support to UNITAD from the outset and it played a critical role, along with Iraq, in Resolution 2379 being agreed unanimously by all members of the Security Council” said Special Adviser Khan.  He continued that “the United States of America has been a steadfast and invaluable supporter of UNITAD from the establishment of the team, and it remains the single largest contributor to UNITAD’s trust fund, having donated about $9 million to support UNITAD’s field investigations into the crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL and its exhumations to date. This financial support is matched by invaluable cooperation and engagement, so that we may collectively deliver on the promise of justice that has been made to the victims and survivors of ISIL crimes”

Mr. Khan also expressed his gratitude to the United States for its generous contributions which have allowed UNITAD to construct and equip its forensic laboratory and evidence vault. This new facility is essential for the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence of Da’esh crimes in accordance with international standards.  He further noted that the Team also intends to utilize the facilities as part of its ongoing delivery of specialized capacity-building training to Iraqi authorities.

Pursuant to UNSC resolution 2379 (2017), UNITAD was established to support domestic efforts to hold ISIL accountable by collecting, preserving, and storing evidence in Iraq of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide the group committed in Iraq, to the highest possible standards, to ensure the broadest possible use before national courts.

Baghdad, March 1, 2021 – Special Adviser Karim A. A. Khan QC welcomed H.E. Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller, Ambassador of the United States to Iraq and H.E. Ambassador Stephen Hickey, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Iraq at UNITAD Headquarters in Baghdad.

Ambassador Tueller and Ambassador Hickey were given a tour of UNITAD’s Headquarters, including the state-of-the-art forensic laboratory, and a demonstration of some of UNITAD’s cutting edge evidence intake and analysis technology.  

Special Adviser Khan thanked the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for their generous support of UNITAD, which demonstrated their commitment to the rule of law and ensuring that Da’esh members are held accountable for the crimes committed, and that justice is served to the victims.

“UNITAD’s facilities and systems became operational as soon as they did in significant part to the generous funding provided by the United Kingdom upon Security Council Resolution 2379 being passed. The United Kingdom has demonstrated unwavering support to UNITAD from the outset and it played a critical role, along with Iraq, in Resolution 2379 being agreed unanimously by all members of the Security Council” said Special Adviser Khan.  He continued that “the United States of America has been a steadfast and invaluable supporter of UNITAD from the establishment of the team, and it remains the single largest contributor to UNITAD’s trust fund, having donated about $9 million to support UNITAD’s field investigations into the crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL and its exhumations to date. This financial support is matched by invaluable cooperation and engagement, so that we may collectively deliver on the promise of justice that has been made to the victims and survivors of ISIL crimes”

Mr. Khan also expressed his gratitude to the United States for its generous contributions which have allowed UNITAD to construct and equip its forensic laboratory and evidence vault. This new facility is essential for the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence of Da’esh crimes in accordance with international standards.  He further noted that the Team also intends to utilize the facilities as part of its ongoing delivery of specialized capacity-building training to Iraqi authorities.

Pursuant to UNSC resolution 2379 (2017), UNITAD was established to support domestic efforts to hold ISIL accountable by collecting, preserving, and storing evidence in Iraq of acts that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide the group committed in Iraq, to the highest possible standards, to ensure the broadest possible use before national courts.