The 34th Genocide Network meeting on 15-16 November 2023 focused on the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes committed by ISIL against the Yazidi community in Iraq and Syria. With many ongoing investigations and prosecutions of crimes committed by EU nationals joining ISIL and repatriations presenting possible new cases, the topic proved highly relevant and timely. Speakers from a variety of backgrounds and with unique insights into the topic delivered presentations on the legal complexities of such cases and engaged the audience in practical discussions.
Consultations related to the specific themes, such as: the importance of bringing justice to survivors; destructions of Yazidis cultural and religious identity; strategies for prosecuting crimes against children, including slavery; specific role of females in ISIL; prosecutorial strategies for collaboration between national authorities; assistance of the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD), the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on international crimes committed in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIIM), the Commission for Investigation and Gathering of Evidence, civil society organisations and methodologies for accessing evidentiary material.
The meeting enabled attendees to share experiences, practical examples and inspiration for ongoing and future cases against foreign terrorist fighters, being either nationals of EU Member States or present in the territory of the EU.
Conclusions of the meeting will be available in due course on the Genocide Network web page.
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