2nd Report - Accountability for Daesh crimes

Select Committee

Human Rights (Joint Committee) HC 612 13 May 2025

Report Status Government responded

Conclusions & Recommendations 17 items (7 recs)

Source View on Parliament website

No response data available yet.

Recommendations

7 results

6

The Government should amend the International Criminal Court Act 2001 to remove the requirements of...

Recommendation

The Government should amend the International Criminal Court Act 2001 to remove the requirements of UK nationality and residency. The relevant guidelines should also be amended to ensure that presence in the UK is not 32 a prerequisite to initiating … Read more

Ministry of Justice

8

The Government should prioritise the establishment of a clear framework to allow for greater cooperation...

Recommendation

The Government should prioritise the establishment of a clear framework to allow for greater cooperation between UK’s relevant national bodies and between the UK and other mechanisms involved in the gathering and preserving of evidence. It should also identify the … Read more

Ministry of Justice

10

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 … Read more

Ministry of Justice

12

The Government must provide greater transparency as to the use of deprivation of citizenship powers,...

Recommendation

The Government must provide greater transparency as to the use of deprivation of citizenship powers, including by providing regularly updated data to the public. The Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, or the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation if his … Read more

Ministry of Justice

14

The Government must publish updated data on the number of Britons estimated to be detained...

Recommendation

The Government must publish updated data on the number of Britons estimated to be detained in NES, with information disaggregated by age and sex if available. If this data is not available or cannot be made public, the Government must … Read more

Ministry of Justice

16

The Government must adopt a proactive approach and seek to identify and locate minors and...

Recommendation

The Government must adopt a proactive approach and seek to identify and locate minors and where feasible repatriate them as soon as practically possible. (Recommendation, Paragraph 97)

Ministry of Justice

17

The Government should undertake every effort to prosecute British individuals held in camps in NES...

Recommendation

The Government should undertake every effort to prosecute British individuals held in camps in NES where there is evidence that they were involved in Daesh crimes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 98) 34

Ministry of Justice

Conclusions (10) Observations and findings — click to expand

1 Conclusion

We welcome the Government’s commitment to achieve justice for survivors of Daesh crimes. However, not a single Daesh fighter has been successfully prosecuted in the UK for committing international crimes, such as genocide. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)

2 Conclusion

Terrorism charges do not capture the nature and scale of crimes committed against victims. Where there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for international crimes, individuals should be prosecuted for such crimes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 37)

3 Conclusion

The Government has told us that the most appropriate forums for prosecuting individuals are the jurisdictions where the crimes were committed. Given the concerns with regard to fair trial rights, capacity, and resources, we must not rely on other countries to investigate and prosecute individuals for international crimes. Where the …

4 Conclusion

Where the UK has jurisdiction over international crimes, the UK should seek to investigate and prosecute such crimes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)

5 Conclusion

The UK legal framework applicable to international crimes is inconsistent. Whilst it is possible to prosecute individuals for torture and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions committed abroad, it is not possible to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, or other war crimes committed abroad, unless the individuals are …

7 Conclusion

There is a lack of cooperation between UK investigative and prosecuting bodies, such as the War Crimes Unit of the Metropolitan Police, and the Crown Prosecution Service. (Conclusion, Paragraph 60)

9 Conclusion

With the closure of UNITAD, it is imperative that the evidence gathered is not lost, and that new evidence can still be collected as needed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 61)

11 Conclusion

The UK uses deprivation of citizenship orders more than almost any country in the world. At the same time that it is important for the Government to be able to take steps such as citizenship stripping in the interests of public safety, there is a serious lack of transparency and …

13 Conclusion

There is no official public data from the Government on the number of British individuals currently detained in camps and prisons in North East Syria (NES). (Conclusion, Paragraph 95)

15 Conclusion

We recognise that the Government may in some cases feel that national security considerations render repatriations difficult. We acknowledge this and recognise that keeping the public safe must be the Government’s highest priority. We also acknowledge that conditions on the ground are volatile and dangerous, leading to a significant possibility …