Vietnam welcomes UNITAD’s investigation achievements despite COVID-19

New York (VNA) – Counsellor Minister and Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Nguyen Phuong Tra hailed recent investigation progress and outcomes obtained by the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh (UNITAD) despite COVID-19-related difficulties at an UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting held on December 10.

At the virtual meeting that discussed an UNITAD report on its operation in the past six months, the Vietnamese Ambassador lauded constructive cooperation between UNITAD and the Iraqi government.

Expressing her concern over attacks by Daesh or the proclaimed Islamic State (IS) targeting civilians and foreign representative offices in Iraq, Tra requested the team continue focusing on its strategic priorities; strengthening cooperation with the Iraqi government, regional and local authorities and religious leaders; and applying all procedures and measures on the protection of victims and witnesses.

Vietnam calls for the international community’s increasing support toward the UNITAD in helping the team carry out its mission in line with international law, UNSC resolutions and principles of the UN Charter, including those on respecting Iraq’s territorial sovereignty, integrity, and unity, she said.

Delivering a report at the meeting, Karim Khan, UN Special Adviser and Head of the UNITAD, highlighted important steps in collecting new sources of evidence on the IS crimes, particularly targeting children and women, as well as in collaborating with the Iraqi government, including the training of investigation skills for Iraqi judges. 

Lauding such progresses, many participating member states pledged their further commitments to supporting UNITAD’s operation based on UNSC resolutions and in line with the Iraqi law.

Established in September 2017, UNITAD began operations in August, 2018. Currently, it has about 130 experts, investigators, security staff and others./.