Baku Dialogue participants call on UN to create mechanism on missing persons

Participants in the 4th International Conference of the Baku Dialogue on Missing Persons have called on the United Nations to facilitate the creation of a special mechanism to address the issue of people missing as a result of armed conflicts.

According to Report, the appeal is contained in the final declaration of the international conference titled "Strengthening Trust and Developing Effective Mechanisms and Solutions for the Issue of Missing Persons."

Conference participants said they were guided by the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949 on the protection of victims of war and the 1977 Additional Protocols, as well as resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council concerning missing persons.

The document recalls the obligation of states to take all necessary measures to register persons missing as a result of armed conflicts and determine their fate.

The authors of the declaration expressed deep concern over the growing number of mass graves being discovered in various regions of the world and reaffirmed the right of families to receive information about the fate of their missing relatives.

The document also emphasizes the importance of addressing the issue of missing persons in strengthening trust, promoting reconciliation and establishing lasting peace.

It separately highlights the contribution of the Baku Dialogue on Missing Persons to raising awareness of the humanitarian issue and developing practical cooperation.

Conference participants called for all necessary measures to be taken to prevent disappearances, search for persons reported missing, determine their fate and inform their families.

The declaration called on states to share all available information relevant to locating and identifying missing persons, including information on the locations of individual and mass graves.

The document stresses the need for the safe and dignified recovery, documentation and identification of human remains. Particular attention is also given to preserving documents and evidence that could help determine the fate of missing persons.

Conference participants commended the efforts of state institutions in a number of countries to identify human remains and ensure their dignified burial.

They also reaffirmed the right of families of persons missing in connection with armed conflicts to know the fate of their loved ones.

The declaration expressed concern that mines and other explosive remnants may obstruct search operations and the recovery of human remains.

States, international organizations and non-governmental organizations were encouraged to strengthen cooperation in addressing the issue of missing persons, including through the exchange of best practices, provision of technical guidance, use of forensic expertise and other emerging technologies.

The participants renewed their call on international organizations, primarily the United Nations, to facilitate the creation of an appropriate mechanism specifically designed to address the issue of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts, and expressed their readiness to cooperate with the UN for this purpose.

Conference participants also praised the work of the Baku Dialogue, which they said was becoming an increasingly important platform for exchanging experience, building trust and developing practical cooperation aimed at providing answers to the families of missing persons.

In conclusion, they expressed gratitude to the State Commission of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons for organizing the conference and providing a platform for constructive discussion of national and international efforts to determine the fate of missing persons.