Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with their international partners, including the government of the Netherlands, about the application of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide to crimes perpetrated by Daesh fighters against religious minorities in Syria and Iraq; and what stance they took in those discussions.

The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to bring Daesh to Justice for their crimes. We have consulted widely with international partners on the issue, including on the consideration of relevant legal frameworks. Following these consultations, on 21 September 2017, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted UK-drafted Daesh Accountability Resolution 2379, which was co-sponsored by 46 Member States including the Netherlands. I am pleased that the Terms of Reference for the investigative team, which is mandated by the Resolution to collect evidence of Daesh atrocities, have now been agreed. We will continue to work closely with both the UN, the Government of Iraq and other international partners to help achieve our shared goal of holding Daesh to account.