International Commission on Missing Persons - ICMP

17/06/2026

This week in Nevesinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ICMP joined families of the missing, representatives of institutions, and members of the local community to mark the Day of Missing Persons of Eastern Herzegovina.

The commemoration brought together participants in remembrance of those who are still missing, while reaffirming support for their families in their ongoing search for truth and answers.

The event was organized by the Organization of Families of Captured and Fallen Soldiers and Missing Civilians, Nevesinje, supported by ICMP and financed by the Ambasada Švicarske u Bosni i Hercegovini

16/06/2026

This week, ICMP announced at an event in Kyiv the winners of the “Voices of the Missing” Journalism Competition, which recognizes outstanding reporting on the issue of missing persons in Ukraine and the experiences of families searching for their missing loved ones.

The competition was organized by ICMP with the support of Norway through a Norad grant to highlight the important role of journalists and journalism students whose work brings attention to the human impact of disappearances, the rights of families of missing persons, and the importance of continued efforts to account for all those who remain missing.

For more info read the press release: icmp.int/news/voices-of…

14/06/2026

On 12 June, the Ukraine Forensic Cluster convened a roundtable, Bridging Families and Forensic Efforts: Dialogue on the Investigation and Identification of Missing Persons in Ukraine. The event brought together international stakeholders, national actors, and families of missing persons, placing the voices and needs of families at the centre of the discussion.

The Ukraine Forensic Cluster comprises staff from ICMP, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Criminal Court, European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM), and Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU).

Established in 2023, the Cluster holds monthly coordination meetings bringing together international organisations supporting Ukraine's efforts on missing persons in armed conflict. These meetings provide a space to strengthen understanding of respective roles and mandates, and to encourage more coordinated and constructive approaches to the ongoing challenge of missing persons in Ukraine.

The meetings focus on sharing forensic-related activities, reviewing ongoing work, identifying common approaches, avoiding duplication, and strengthening collaboration and exchange.

12/06/2026

Twelve years since the Camp Speicher Massacre, ICMP reflects on its work alongside Iraq's MGMPD and MLD through three phases of search and excavation operations in 2016–2017, recovering 1,238 human remains and identifying 1,139 individuals — bringing long-awaited answers to grieving families. These results were made possible by ICMP's hands-on operational support, training, and on-site assistance, with UNITAD and the ICRC also contributing to the broader accountability effort. ICMP remains steadfast in supporting Iraqi authorities until every family has answers.

09/06/2026

Today, ICMP joined families of missing persons and friends of the Association of Families of Missing Persons of the Municipality of Ilijaš in commemorating the Day of Missing Persons of Ilijaš in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The commemoration, supported by ICMP with financial assistance from the Ambasada Švicarske u Bosni i Hercegovini, honored the memory of those who remain missing and expressed solidarity with their families, who continue to seek answers about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. Forty-four persons from Ilijaš are still missing. ICMP remains committed to supporting efforts to account all missing persons and to uphold the rights of all families of the missing.

04/06/2026

Last week in Pristina, with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Pristina, ICMP brought together associations representing Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb families of missing persons, alongside Kosovo institutions responsible for locating and identifying the missing, to strengthen dialogue, transparency, and cooperation in the search for answers.

“Families of the missing have the right to accurate information regarding the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. Sustained dialogue between institutions and families is essential to maintaining confidence in the process and advancing efforts to identify those who are still missing,” said Matthew Holliday, ICMP’s Program Director for Europe.

Families emphasized the urgency of resolving remaining cases and the importance of regular engagement with institutions, while representatives of the Government Commission on Missing Persons and the Institute of Forensic Medicine provided updates on ongoing efforts to review unidentified human remains and advance identifications.

“Sweden will continue to support ICMP, work closely with family associations of missing persons, and encourage continued efforts to resolve all 1,568 active missing persons cases,” said Jonas Westerlund, Ambassador of Sweden to Kosovo.

Participants also visited the Institute of Forensic Medicine to learn more about the forensic procedures and technical capabilities supporting the identification process.

Read more:

Pristina – The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), with the support of the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, convened a meeting on Thursday between associations representing families of […]

29/05/2026

ICMP, together with the Institute of Biology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), and in cooperation with An Giang Province authorities, has launched a large-scale exhumation and DNA identification project at Giong Rieng Martyrs Cemetery.

The initiative involves the exhumation of nearly 1,000 sets of unidentified human remains and the collection of postmortem samples for advanced DNA analysis. Excavation activities are expected to continue for approximately three weeks, after which all collected samples will be transferred to the laboratories of the Center for DNA Identification (CDI) under IB-VAST in Hanoi for processing and analysis.

The operation also marks the beginning of a pilot study part of an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project implemented at IB-VAST from March 2024 through March 2027, funded by the United States Government.

26/05/2026

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25/05/2026

On the , the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) supported a commemorative event titled “ : an Identity between Disappearance and Return” organized by the Halabja Chemical Attack Victims Association, reaffirming solidarity with families who continue to seek answers about the fate and whereabouts of their children.

The event featured the documentary “The Waiting Mothers”, highlighting the experiences of families of the missing from Halabja and the lasting impact of disappearance on the community.

ICMP reiterates its commitment to supporting ’s efforts to account for missing persons from all communities and all periods of conflict, and to supporting families of the missing and civil society organizations in securing their rights to , and reparations.

25/05/2026

On Missing Children’s Day, ICMP stands in solidarity with families of missing children around the world. Every family has the right to truth, justice, and accountability.

Reporting a missing child is the first step toward finding them and bringing answers to families. Learn more: https://oic.icmp.int