S/RES/2299 (2016) Ramadi, Hit, and most recently Fallujah, marking a major step in the continuing international effort to defeat ISIL (Da’esh), Reaffirming that all parties, including armed groups and militias, must respect human rights and abide by all applicable obligations under international humanitarian law, including those to protect the civilian population, including civilians displaced from and returning to areas liberated from ISIL (Da’esh), by which both official Iraqi forces and Member States that assist them must also abide, and while acknowledging legitimate security measures to identify members of ISIL (Da’esh), calling on all parties to immediately release any arbitrarily or unlawfully detained persons, emphasizing that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights, including those involving sexual and gender-based violence, must be held accountable, welcoming the establishment by Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi of a committee to investigate reported violations and abuses, including the reports of missing men and boys from Fallujah, and stressing the need for all such allegations, wherever they occur, to be immediately and comprehensively investigated and, as appropriate, prosecuted, Emphasizing that all parties should take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians, including children, women and members of religious and ethnic minority groups, and should create conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons or local integration of internally displaced persons, particularly in are as newly liberated from ISIL (Da’esh), including up to 90,000 people displaced from Fallujah since May 2016, stressing respect for freedom of movement of internally displaced persons, without discrimination, including with regard to resettlement, returns or protection, reiterating its gratitude to the host communities, underscoring that host communities should provide access to safe areas for internally displaced persons and that those who commit violations and abuses against them should be held accountable, welcoming commitments and encouraging continued efforts of the Government of Iraq for the relief of internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees, noting the important role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, based on its mandate, in providing continued advice and support to the Government of Iraq, in coordination with the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), on these issues, and encouraging the Government of Iraq to continue working with UNAMI and humanitarian agencies to ensure the delivery of humanitarian relief to all those in need, Emphasizing the importance of efforts to support stabilization and long -term sustainable development, particularly in areas liberated from ISIL (Da’esh), urging the Government of Iraq and its partners to accelerate such efforts in order to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons, welcoming efforts of Member States to support the Government of Iraq and its partners as they work to stabilize these areas, encouraging Member States to continue to support stabilization and development, including through the United Nations, recognizing the threat of hazardous explosive devices, welcoming efforts by member states to support the Government of Iraq and its partners in addressing the need to provide risk education, appropriate threat assessments, and conduct clearance of areas of such devices, and encouraging Member States to continue such support, 16-12893 3/6