Denmark has signed an agreement to provide financial support for investigations into crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL. The support is allocated to the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crime (UNITAD).
The support amounts to DKK 6 Million (approx. USD 900.000). It is earmarked to investigations carried out by UNITAD’s Gender–Based Crimes and Children Unit. UNITAD’s Information Systems Unit (ISU) comanages the unit. ISU’s work is vital in the collection, storage, and processing of evidentiary material related to gender-based crimes committed by ISIL, and crimes against children.
Technological solutions
With the help of the Danish contribution, both units will be able to employ technological solutions to investigations across three thematic areas. They are crimes affecting children; sexual slavery; and crimes against the LGBTQI community. Furthermore, the overall aim is to enhance the collection, storage, and processing of evidentiary materials pertaining to criminal investigations of crimes ISIL committed in Iraq.
“Women and children are among those, who suffered the worst during ISIL’s reign of terror,” says Trine Bramsen, the Danish Minister for Defence. “By holding ISIL accountable for their heinous crimes, UNITAD supports the Iraqi efforts to ensure the enduring defeat of the terrorist organization. Denmark is proud to be contributing to this effort.”
Minority groups
ISIL targeted specifically women from minority groups in Iraq for sexual and gender-based crimes. They may fall within the spectrum of international crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. This includes rape, forced marriage, sexual enslavement, abduction, human trafficking, torture, and the violent separation of women, children, and men.
The Team will utilize the funding to ensure its investigations are conducted in accordance with the highest international standards for documenting and preserving evidence.
Denmark is also providing financial support to UNITAD aimed at strengthening the capacity of Iraqi courts, the judicial system and forensic capacity.
.The support, which amounts to DKK 6 Million (approx. USD 900.000), is allocated to investigations carried out by UNITAD’s Gender–Based Crimes){kind=link}