From post-conflict identification in the Western Balkans to a global mandate anchored in The Hague, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) marks 30 years of dedicated work to bring missing persons back to their families.
A new global response mechanism for missing persons crises
To further strengthen international preparedness, ICMP has launched the Standing Capacity for Crisis Response (SCCR), a new global mechanism designed to respond rapidly and effectively to large-scale missing persons crises. Developed as a permanent preparedness framework, SCCR combines deployable forensic expertise, advanced DNA and data systems, integrated information platforms and international coordination mechanisms. The initiative is intended to support governments and partners dealing with the growing impact of conflict, disasters, irregular migration and organised crime, all of which increasingly result in complex cross-border missing persons cases. By bringing together scientific capability, operational readiness and multilateral cooperation, SCCR aims to improve crisis response, strengthen accountability and ensure that affected families receive answers more quickly and reliably.
ICMP’s work across conflict and post-conflict regions
In Ukraine, ICMP supports authorities in addressing the large-scale issue of missing persons linked to the ongoing war, including through DNA-led identification systems, data management and institutional cooperation. In Syria and Iraq, ICMP works with governments and international partners to develop sustainable mechanisms that can help account for the missing and support long-term accountability efforts.
Across the Western Balkans, where ICMP’s pioneering work began, the organisation continues to assist governments in resolving remaining missing persons cases and strengthening regional cooperation. Beyond these programmes, ICMP increasingly supports states worldwide with technical expertise, training and institutional capacity-building, helping governments establish effective and lawful systems to address missing persons cases in line with international standards.
Science, data and dignity
Central to ICMP’s work is its advanced DNA laboratory system and global data-processing capability. These tools allow for the high-throughput analysis required in complex contexts, from mass graves to migration routes. Beyond the technical dimension, ICMP’s approach places families at the centre, ensuring that identification processes are transparent, reliable and respectful.
This commitment was further underlined in late 2025 with the establishment of a dedicated Committee on Data. The initiative aims to safeguard the secure and lawful management of sensitive personal information, reinforcing trust among families and partners alike.
Remembering Srebrenica, shaping the future
In July 2025, ICMP marked 30 years since the Srebrenica Genocide, a defining moment in its history. Through its “Geography of Genocide” interactive platform, the organisation has connected mass grave locations with identification records, offering both a tool for remembrance and a resource for education and justice.
This work reflects ICMP’s broader mission: not only to account for the missing, but also to contribute to truth-seeking processes and prevent denial.
ICMP will mark its 30th anniversary with a series of sessions during its annual General Assembly and by hosting the roundtable discussion “From Grief to Global Impact: The Transformative Role of Women in Addressing the Global Challenge of Missing Persons” on 18 June in The Hague. Which will highlight the essential role women have played in advancing justice, accountability and support for families of the missing worldwide. Members of the press interested in learning more about ICMP’s work and anniversary activities are invited to contact the organisation directly via ICMP Headquarters in The Hague.
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ICMP brings new hope to the families of missing people
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) works with governments and civil society to address the issue of people who have gone missing.
About ICMP
About ICMP People go missing as a result of armed conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, migration and other causes. The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is an […] ...
