As part of the fight against Islamic State, the Foreign Ministry is donating 6.4 million kroner to the organisation Justice Rapid Response to investigate and document war crimes and other human rights violations in Iraq and Syria.

Justice will be served
"Everyone involved in the current conflict should know that they will be held accountable for any war crimes," Martin Lidegaard, the foreign minister, said in a statement.

"The civilian victims need to know that one day justice will be served and documentation can prevent violations of human rights."

Lidegaard believes IS can be fought by non-military means and that "documenting their immoral behaviour" can help.

The minister emphasised that all war crimes – no matter who committed them – must be examined. 

Collecting evidence for trials
The Justice Rapid Response will play a crucial role in ensuring sufficient evidence is collected for a subsequent legal process. 

The 6.4 million kroner has been taken from the Peace and Stabilisation Fund, which is used, among other things, to stabilise and rebuild fragile states and to counter the threat of violent extremism.

Since 2009, the Justice Rapid Response has been conducting fieldwork assisting states, civil society and the UN in the fight against genocide, war crimes and human rights violations.