5 NGOs Ask Dutch Minister to put ISIS question on UNSC Agenda Next Month
Addressing Critical Question of ISIS Perpetrators and Victims as UNSC Chair
On 22 February 2018, five (international) NGOs presented a joint statement to the Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms Sigrid Kaag, on the issue of ISIS. As one of the 2018 UN Security Council Members, and President of the Council in March, the Netherlands has expressed that it would actively combat ISIS and bring its fighters to justice.
Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Sigrid Kaag
Your Excellency,
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Kingdom of the Netherlands with its 2018 seat at the UN Security Council (UNSC). We also would like to commend the Dutch Government on its Coalition Agreement (“Regeerakkoord”), which determines that the Netherlands will actively combat ISIS and bring its fighters to justice in the context of the UNSC.
As representatives and NGOs working closely with the victims of the genocide committed and publicized by ISIS in its own publications and videos, we appeal to you to use your influential role as the upcoming Chair of the UNSC by putting the critical question of the perpetrators and victims of the ISIS Genocide on the UNSC agenda in March 2018. If you and the UNSC do not act, ISIS fighters, who also come from West Europe, may commit similar atrocities against your population. They have already attacked places like Paris, Brussels, Berlin and Manchester. Frankly, the ongoing inaction of Western European nations has become incomprehensible.
The US Senate and the Council of Europe (see its report commissioned by the Dutch Member of Parliament Mr. Pieter Omtzigt) have already recognized this genocide in 2016 and 2017. These are important steps forward, but a sense of urgency and concrete actions are still missing. Recently, your predecessor Mr. Halbe Zijlstra wrote that the Dutch Government is of the opinion that “there is sufficient evidence to conclude that ISIS most likely committed genocide and crimes against humanity. The obligations under the genocide convention apply in this case.” Therefore, we would like to ask you:
A. What recommendations, proposals and steps will the Dutch government present to the UNSC for it to respond to the ISIS Genocide against vulnerable minority groups such as the Aramean Christians (including all denominations), Yazidis, Shias and other ethno-religious minorities, and make sure that the UN Member States take the obligations of the genocide convention seriously?
B. In light of UNSC Resolution 2379, what additional steps does the Dutch Government believe the UNSC should take to ensure ISIS fighters are held accountable for genocide and crimes against humanity and brought to justice, including those foreign fighters who have fled the formerly self-declared caliphate of ISIS?
C. How and when will the UNSC provide the necessary assistance to the traumatized victims so that they can safely return home, rebuild their houses, shops, places of worship and a secure future in their ancestral land?
At the heart of these crucial questions lies the political credibility of the United Nations Security Council. On the one hand, the UNSC is expected to ensure international peace, security and justice by defending human rights and human dignity by upholding the UN charters, which include the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. On the other hand, it is expected to guarantee the protection of and sustainable aid to vulnerable minorities to live in their ancient homeland.
We thank you in advance for your reply to our queries and for your efforts, in fulfilling your leading role as the UNSC Chair during the upcoming month of March, by introducing the above issue to the UNSC agenda.
We would appreciate a reply to these questions before you assume the UNSC Presidency and, if appreciated, we are most willing to provide testimony where necessary.
Yours sincerely,
World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
Aramese Federatie Nederland
Roads of Success
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International
Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME)
Please click here to download the joint statement in PDF
