Approximately 28 terabytes (TB) of data have been transferred so far, representing a majority of the 40 TB held by the UN Investigation Team to Further Account for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL.UNITAD).
Briefing ambassadors at the Security CouncilAna Peyró Llopis, acting head of UNITAD, said she has been in regular contact with Iraqi officials, especially the judiciary, survivors of terrorist violence and civil society organizations.
“All stakeholders were keen to intensify cooperation before the end of the mandate, particularly in the areas of provision of evidence, other materials and analyses, as well as capacity building.”
The legacy
Since its inception, UNITAD has played a central role in ensuring accountability for the atrocities committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) between 2014 and 2017, which constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity and could constitute genocide. Said Mrs. Peyró Llopis.
The evidence, carefully collected and preserved by the team, includes testimony from witnesses, data from ISIL’s digital devices, on-site investigations and content extracted using advanced forensic methods.
This vast repository of information has been compiled into a digital archive that meets strict international evidentiary standards so that it can be used in ongoing and future legal proceedings, said Ms. Peyró Llopis.
“These products will continue to exist even after the closure of the team, and member states, including Iraq, may consider them in the future to hold ISIL perpetrators accountable for the international crimes they committed in Iraq,” she added to.
Submit evidence
Ms Peyró Llopis further informed Council members that UNITAD had handed over its 28TB of evidence in March
A new set of evidence, including online and open-source information, was transferred on Monday, while evidence collected from Kurdistan regional authorities is ready for delivery.
“Some of this returned evidence was achieved through close cooperation between the team and Iraqi authorities,” she added, through activities such as excavating a mass grave or data from seized ISIS devices.
Incorporation and liquidation
Ms Peyró Llopis further briefed the ambassadors on progress towards the withdrawal and liquidation of the team by September 17.
This includes the closure of its offices, proper management of its personnel and assets, and the archiving of both evidentiary and non-evidentiary material.
“The importance of maintaining, preserving and managing these archives was central to my discussions,” she said, noting that Iraqi authorities would maintain custody and preserve, store and manage the original evidence in Iraq.
“This will be used in domestic criminal proceedings and achieving accountability at the national level,” she added.
A copy of the original evidence will be retained by the UN Secretariat as part of its archives.
