Source · Select Committees · Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
We urge the Government to use its influence to ensure that such valuable evidence is...
Recommendation
We urge the Government to use its influence to ensure that such valuable evidence is not lost and that it is kept safe from both state and non- state actors who could put the lives of survivors at risk. The Government should also employ efforts to ensure that this evidence, as well as any future evidence collected of Daesh crimes, is effectively analysed and used to aid investigations and prosecutions globally. (Recommendation, Paragraph 61) Deprivation of citizenship
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response rejects the committee's assessment of a lack of cooperation between UK investigative bodies, which does not address the recommendation to ensure the preservation and effective use of valuable evidence from Daesh crimes.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
16. Agree. Following the end of UNITAD’s mandate in September 2024, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council established the National Centre for International Judicial Co-operation (NCIJC) in October 2024. The centre is Iraq’s legally designated authority for international judicial cooperation and evidence-sharing on counter terrorism. 17. The NCIJC aspires to develop the scope of work previously undertaken by UNITAD, including gathering evidence and creating an enhanced and continually expanding archive of information, intelligence and evidence accessible to the international community. This will support the international community’s ability to pursue those responsible for the crimes committed by Daesh. The NCIJC is in a process of engaging with the survivor community to build trust and confidence in their processes and raise awareness of their plans. The UK is committed to achieving justice for the survivors and victims of Daesh crimes and is working bilaterally with Iraq through this new centre. The UK is supporting the NCIJC to develop its processes for receiving and actioning requests for information, intelligence and evidence. This focuses on designing information and data management systems and understanding international requirements. 18. On Syria, in 2016, the UK co-sponsored the UNGA resolution which established the UN International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), a UN body established to assist with the investigation and prosecution of individuals complicit in crimes during the Syria conflict, including Daesh. In March 2022, the UK signed an MOU with the IIIM, which enables UK law enforcement – including SO15 – to use IIIM information in investigations and prosecutions. It also allows the IIIM to request UK information to support prosecutions in other jurisdictions. 19. In addition, the FCDO directly funds evidence gathering programmes in Syria which has resulted in the conviction of several members of Daesh across Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. We will continue to work with all parties, including UK law enforcement, the UN, Syrian civil society and other evidence gathering organisations to build a credible, fit-for-purpose evidence base for criminal prosecutions.
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