A United Nations investigation into atrocities committed by the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq found “clear and convincing evidence” of genocide against the Yazidis, according to a UN Security Council briefing on Monday.

The road to genocide recognition began in September 2017 when the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2379 establishing an investigative team to hold IS accountable for their actions. That team would later be referred to as the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh (UNITAD). Da’esh (or Daesh) is the Arabic reference to IS.

Five UN staff members were sent to Iraq in October 2018. Since then, a reported “mountain of information” was compiled by that team that included testimonies, forensic evidence from mass grave sites and digital data extracted from IS phones and hard drives.

Over the next two-and-a-half years, the investigation grew to six field teams, including a gender unit, children's unit, financial and tracking unit, and witness protection support unit. Together, they painted a clearer picture for international officials of the targeted actions by the extremist group.