P1251947318tfBQj

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The Missing Persons Project and the Conference
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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

3
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

4
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.

5
Process Organization

• First Stage (02-09.2002)
• 3 external studies
• 2 electronic workshops
• 6 workshops
• Second Stage
• Conference of governmental and non governmental
  experts
• 19-21 February 2003

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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

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Topics addressed at the Conference

• Families needs
• be considered as victims
• the right to know
• accountability and acknowledgment to be recognized

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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