Survivors and victims of Daesh crimes deserve justice: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on meeting on Iraq.
The UK welcomes the UN’s transition planning and the cooperation between the Government of Iraq and UNAMI. It is important that this transition happens smoothly.
We also welcome the holding of parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 20 October and UNAMI’s support to the Independent High Electoral Commission in successfully conducting these elections.
This serves as an important expression of the voice of the people of the KRI and the continued democratic legitimacy of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Now that the results have been certified, we hope for a swift government formation process. We also hope that UNAMI will continue to work closely with IHEC in the final year of its mandate.
Lessons learned from the KRI elections can inform the planning of federal elections scheduled for next year.
President, as a member of the ICRC-chaired Tripartite Commission for the Missing from the First Gulf War, the UK is committed to supporting the Kuwait missing persons and property file.
We welcome Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s personal commitment to this issue and urge the Government of Iraq to redouble its efforts in line with Security Council Resolution 2732.
We hope this transitional period provides Iraq with an opportunity to demonstrate tangible progress, and we will work with Iraq, Kuwait and other parties to ensure a suitable follow-on mechanism as appropriate.
We are reviewing the proposed amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law and emphasise the importance of any amendments being compatible with Iraq’s international obligations.
Following recent events in Syria, we are concerned about the potential for further escalation in the region including its impact on Iraq and the KRI.
We urge those with influence to encourage militias based in Iraq to refrain from attacks, including on Israeli population centres which risk further conflict.
The UK will continue to press for de-escalation in the region to build upon the current ceasefire in Lebanon and to push for an immediate ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza.
President, UNITAD closed in September, but Council members and Iraq have been clear that this does not signal the end of the fight for accountability against Daesh. The UK shares that determination.
Survivors and victims of Daesh crimes deserve justice. The UK remains ready to support an enhanced UN archive and looks forward to hearing from the Government of Iraq on these efforts to ensure accountability for victims in Iraq and in third countries.
In closing, I’d like to renew the UK’s commitment to the stability and security of Iraq and to thank to the SRSG and UNAMI for their efforts.