15,000 Killed Since January – UN report

Forced recruitment by ISIL forces, including of children, continues in several governorates, including Anbar and Ninewa. The report shows that some children are taken to training camps in Syria, where they are taught how to use weapons and “deal with” prisoners.

Many of these acts constitute violations of international law, some of which may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly genocide, the report says.

The report also documents violations committed by the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and affiliated forces, including airstrikes and shelling which, at times, may have violated the principles of distinction and proportionality and the obligation to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians from the effects of attacks. The extent of the Government’s command and control over associated forces remains unclear.

The report notes that some affiliated forces have reportedly conducted attacks and reprisals against civilians perceived to be supportive of ISIL.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Jan Kubis, deplored the heavy toll the conflict continues to take on Iraqi civilians. “UNAMI continues to have grave concerns for the thousands of civilians subjected to human rights violations on a daily basis, particularly by ISIL,” Mr. Kubis said.

“Parties to the conflict are required by international human rights law and international humanitarian law to prevent such violations and abuses from taking place and to ensure that civilians are spared to the fullest extent possible from the ongoing violence,” the Special Representative said.

The UN report also devotes an in-depth annex to the 12 June 2014 Camp Speicher incident, during which some 1,700 cadets were killed by ISIL fighters. Drawing on detailed interviews with 12 survivors, it describes how most soldiers were captured at ISIL checkpoints after leaving the camp on the orders of their commanding officers.