The Missing Persons Project and the Conference

The ICRC Process An Internal Objective:  To establish operational guide-lines on the missing issues:  by reviewing all working methods at the political and field level

The ICRC Process Several External Objectives:  To review all methods to prevent disappearances in conflict and respond to the needs of families that have lost contact with their loved ones

The ICRC Process Several External Objectives:  To agree upon common recommendations and operational practices  To raise this concern to a higher level on the agendas of government authorities, the United Nations, and non-governmental organizations.

Process Organization  First Stage ( )  3 external studies  2 electronic workshops  6 workshops  Second Stage  Conference of governmental and non governmental experts February 2003

Topics addressed at the Conference  The Missing: Persons whose families are without news of them, and/or Who are reported missing on the basis of reliable information Owing to armed conflict or internal violence

Topics addressed at the Conference  Families needs :  be considered as victims  the right to know  accountability and acknowledgment to be recognized

Families specific needs  Particular attention must be paid to single heads of families and children whose parents are both missing  Assistance shall aim at self-sufficiency  Psychological support shall be provided  Independent family network and associations should be encouraged

Responsibilities  of States for prevention and for clarification of the fate of persons unaccounted for  of Armed groups based on treaty and customary law  of IO and NGOs to promote awareness, give support and act as facilitators

Prevention  Ratifying and adhering to treaties  Implementing the treaties’ provisions into domestic law  Teaching the rules contained in these treaties  Enforcing and respecting the treaties’ provisions

Information management  Compilation of comprehensive files on an impartial basis  Coordination between actors (working methods and processing procedure)  Centralization of information  Legal rules governing the protection of personal data must be respected  Information should be shared without endangering victims or the sources of the information

Information on the dead  Information on the dead = reduction of the number of missing  Despoliation & desecration of the dead are crimes under international law  Authorities bear the primary responsibility

Outcome of the Conference  Observations and Recommendations adopted by consensus: Binding / non binding  Implementation of best operational practices within and among actors involved in the field  Participants pledged to raise the issue of Missing persons in other fora

Outcome of the Conference  The most outstanding feature debate has been the diversity of its participants  The reality of the suffering of families has been recognized  The law as a means to help alleviate suffering has been presented as a tool  Historical step for the search of solutions