To facilitate efforts by Swedish law enforcement authorities to investigate crimes committed by ISIL terrorists, Sweden today entered into a cooperation agreement with UNITAD.
ISIL supporters have left behind a great deal of evidence in Iraq, which UNITAD* has been mandated to collect, catalogue and store. This evidence is being gathered for use in national trials against ISIL supporters in Iraq or other countries related to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The agreement signed today between Sweden and UNITAD aims to simplify and streamline for Swedish law enforcement authorities to cooperate and to facilitate access to the evidence UNITAD collects.
“To prosecute and ensure accountability for ISIL terrorists is a priority for the Government. Those who participated in the terrible crimes committed by ISIL must not be led to believe that they can escape punishment, and ISIL victims are entitled to justice. UNITAD is an important player in these efforts, which is why we today have entered into this agreement with them,” says Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg.
The agreement means that it will be easier for Swedish law enforcement authorities to access all the evidence that UNITAD gathers. The agreement also stipulates that, when Swedish legislation allows, Swedish authorities may provide information that they have gathered to UNITAD.
As a result of the agreement, the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prosecution Authority have been designated as national contact points for cooperation in Sweden.
The agreement was signed in New York on 7 May by Sweden’s ambassador to the UN Anna Karin Eneström, since Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg was unable to attend in person due to the pandemic.
“I am happy that Sweden strengthens its cooperation with the UN mission UNITAD and supports the important operational work in Iraq to promote accountability for these heinous crimes and atrocities”, says Sweden’s ambassador to the UN Anna Karin Eneström.
* Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL
