The Accountability Deficits of Major Western Powers: A Pilot Project on UK Military Accountability for International Crimes in Iraq

The research focuses on analysing:

• the decision-making process and rationales given for closing domestic criminal investigations and not pursuing prosecutions;
• Procedural aspects of the military investigations which remain open and their progress
• rulings of UK civil courts with oversight over certain matters relevant to the investigations
• lacunae in UK law

The research forms the basis for a report disseminated to key stakeholders in the UK and at the ICC.

Beyond the immediate objectives, the project fosters planned multi-country research focused on responses to alleged international crimes perpetrated by major Western powers during counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

We seek to place the progress/deficits of accountability structures within the context of other truth-seeking and justice frameworks in order to increase understanding of the wider context.