New mom and British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney attended the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday as the council voted to investigate ISIS war crimes following her campaign that sought justice for Yazidi sex slaves.
Clooney, who is married to Hollywood star George Clooney, represents members of Iraq’s Yazidi community who were raped and kidnapped by Islamic State militants.
Amal Clooney said earlier this year that nations must not let the extremist group ‘get away with genocide’.
‘Yazidis and other ISIS victims want justice in a court of law, and they deserve nothing less,’ said the attorney.
New mom and British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney attended the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday as the council voted to investigate ISIS war crimes following her campaign seeking justice for Yazidi sex slaves
She was back amongst friends, may of whom stopped to greet her. She took a moment to talk with British Ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft
Clooney (left and right), who is married to George Clooney, represents members of Iraq’s Yazidi community who were raped and kidnapped by Islamic State militants
Amal Clooney said earlier this year that nations must not let the extremist group ‘get away with genocide’. She was seen greeting and shaking the hands of leaders, including US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (left) who looked thrilled to see her
Ahead of the decision, Clooney, who welcomed her twins Ella and Alexander in June, appeared confident that the council would vote in favor of her campaign.
She was seen smiling, greeting and shaking the hands of leaders, including US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Last summer, Clooney made the announcement that she would represent Yazidi victims.
At the time she said: ‘It’s been harrowing to hear the testimony of girls as young as 11 and 12 talk about what’s happened to them. And still we haven’t been able to do anything about it.’
When asked if she would pursue this case ‘no matter the price’ Clooney said she would, adding that she did not take the decision lightly.
‘They are brainwashing people and I think one of the ways to take action against that is to expose their brutality and their corruption and partly, you can do that through trials,’ she said at the time.
UN investigators can now help Iraq collect evidence to build potential war crimes cases against ISIS.
The council unanimously passed a resolution that asks the UN to establish an investigative team to help Iraq preserve evidence ‘that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide’ committed by the Islamic State group.
Iraq and Britain spearheaded the measure.
‘There can never be adequate recompense’ for those who have had to endure the group’s brutality, said Alastair Burt, the British minister of state for the Middle East.
UN investigators will be able to help identify victims and perpetrators and ‘provide an indispensable record of the scope and scale’ of IS atrocities, Haley (pictured embracing Clooney) said, calling the resolution ‘a landmark’
Last summer, Clooney made the announcement that she would represent Yazidi victims. At the time she said: ‘It’s been harrowing to hear the testimony of girls as young as 11 and 12 talk about what’s happened to them. And still we haven’t been able to do anything about it’
She wore an eye-catching orange suit with a coordinated pussy bow blouse and nude pumps
The new mom was all smiles at the UN, just months after giving birth to her twins
She and George are financially supporting a Yazidi refugee, George revealed in a recent interview, who is in school and living in Kentucky
Amal and George Clooney welcomed their twins Ella and Alexander in June. The pair are seen at the Suburbicon screening during the 74th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 2 in Italy
‘This resolution means that the international community is united in our belief that there should at least be accountability for those who perpetrated such wanton acts,’ he added, pledging 1 million pounds ($1.35 million) to the investigative effort.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said in a letter last month that his country wants to ‘make use of international expertise’ to bring to justice the IS group, also known as ISIL or Daesh.
‘The crimes committed by the terrorist organization ISIL against civilians and its destruction of infrastructure and antiquities in Iraq are crimes against humanity,’ al-Jaafari wrote.
UN investigators will be able to help identify victims and perpetrators and ‘provide an indispensable record of the scope and scale’ of IS atrocities, Haley said, calling the resolution ‘a landmark’.