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.
📖 For more information, read the press release: https://t.co/CYeyAU5ERj
#MissingPersons #DNA #Vietnam #ICMP #ForensicScience
📢 New open position: Intern, Human Resources
�� Location: The Hague (Hybrid)
Requirements:
✅ Education: Be enrolled in or have recently completed an advanced university degree program in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications or another related field;
✅ Languages: Proficiency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of Dutch/any other language is considered as an asset.
Interested?👉 Check out the details and apply here: https://t.co/WWHjCQk2sW
On the #InternationalMissingChildrensDay, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) supported a commemorative event titled “#Halabja: 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 #missing 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 #Iraq’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 #truth, #justice and reparations.
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://t.co/ZuCc9LFinA
#MissingChildren #InternationalMissingChildrensDay #ChildProtection #HumanRights #MissingPersons #ICMP #BringThemHome #EveryChildMatters #Justice #Accountability
Today in Sarajevo, the ICMP’s Western Balkans Program hosted students and professors from Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle, the Netherlands.
During the visit, ICMP Communications Officer Saša Kulukčija explained the ICMP’s work in the Western Balkans, where more than 40,000 people were reported missing following the conflicts of the 1990s. To date, around 75 percent of those missing have been accounted for through the efforts of domestic institutions and families of the missing with ICMP's support.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of international cooperation, the role of scientific methods in locating and identifying missing persons, and the impact of this work on families and societies affected by disappearance.
On the National Day of Mass Graves, the International Commission on Missing Persons calls for strengthened efforts to address the issue of missing persons through a rule-of-law-based approach that safeguards the rights of families to know the truth and achieve justice.
🔗 Read more:https://t.co/ZSYo8x9CIn
#ICMP #MissingPersons #MassGraves #HumanRights #Truth #Justice #FamiliesOfTheMissing #RuleOfLaw #Iraq #NationalDayOfMassGraves
On the International Day of Families, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) joined the Advisory Board of the Missing Persons Institute of #Bosnia and Herzegovina, families of the missing, representatives of domestic authorities, and members of the international community at the event held today at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in #Sarajevo.
The event served as a reminder that despite unprecedented results in accounting for the missing in BIH, decades after the conflicts thousands of families are still searching for truth and justice for their missing loved ones. Families of the missing continue to carry the burden of uncertainty, while leading efforts to preserve memory, demand accountability, and uphold the right to #truth and #justice.
#ICMP remains committed to supporting institutions and families in efforts to account for the missing and secure the rights of all families of the #missing.
Today in Bratunac, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) joined families of victims and representatives of institutions from across Bosnia and Herzegovina at the =funeral ceremony at the Memorial Center Veljaci, where one victim was laid to rest.
For families of the missing, commemorations such as these remain an important part of honoring those who were lost and reaffirming the right to truth and justice.
The gathering was organized as part of activities implemented by the Association Women of Podrinje – Bratunac through ICMP’s Small Grants Program, with financial support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
📢 New open position: Intern, Research and Analysis
🌍 Location: Iraq (Remote)
Requirements:
✅ Education: Currently enrolled in university degree program or a recent graduate;
✅ Languages: Excellent reading and writing skills in English.
Interested?👉 Check out the details and apply here: https://t.co/c0KFF97vkq
The Association of Families of Missing Soldiers and Civilians Semberija and Majevica in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina organized a commemorative gathering, supported by ICMP through a project funded by the Swiss Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that brought together families of the missing, representatives of domestic institutions, and ICMP.
For families still searching for their loved ones, religious ceremonies and commemorative gatherings held in remembrance of those who disappeared more than 20 years ago — and who still do not have a grave to visit — remain deeply significant. For years, ICMP has supported activities led by families that focus on remembrance, dignity, and preserving the memory of the missing.
ICMP and Libya’s General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons (GASIMP) held a coordination meeting in Tunis today, focused on the adoption and implementation of ICMP’s Integrated Data Management System (iDMS). The meeting concluded with the signing of an End User License Agreement (EULA), as part of ongoing cooperation under ICMP’s Libya Program. The event was made possible through the generous support of the @DutchMFA and was attended by the Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Libya, Helen Baartmans. For more information, please read the press release: https://t.co/2r7OPz4uX4
#missingpersons #Libya #NL #humanrights #IDMS #ICMP @NLambLib
Today in Bihać, a conference on the importance of legal proceedings in addressing genocide denial and protecting the rights of victims and families of the missing brought together families, legal experts, researchers, and institutional representatives. The event was organized by the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide, supported by the International Commission on Missing Persons with financial support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and highlighted the role of justice in safeguarding rights and ensuring accountability.
In the coming days, representatives of victims’ associations will continue the dialogue at the Faculty of Law in Bihać, engaging with students and academics on the importance of confronting denial through legal mechanisms.
The event also marked a moment of recognition, as participating associations presented the International Commission on Missing Persons with a certificate of appreciation for more than 20 years of work in promoting truth and supporting families of the missing.
This week, ICMP representatives, including Head of Archaeology and Anthropology Division, Soren Blau, participated in a workshop in #Damascus hosted by the Syrian National Commission on Missing Persons (NCMP). The workshop focused on standardizing general procedures for forensic response and missing persons files. The event brought together representatives from Syria’s Ministries of Justice, Health, and Interior, along with local and international forensic experts.
#ICMP #Syria #HumanRights #Misssing #Missing_persons
At a roundtable held in East Sarajevo, organized by the Republican Organization of Families of Fallen Soldiers and Missing Civilians of Republika Srpska (ROPIN) as part of the project “The Missing: A Concern for Families and Society,” supported by the ICMP with financial support of the European Union, families of the missing and associations came together to discuss ongoing efforts to locate and identify persons still unaccounted for across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The discussion focused on the broader concern for families and society, providing a space for direct dialogue with institutions. Representatives of ICMP and partner institutions provided updates and responded to questions on efforts to account for persons still missing from the conflict in BiH.
The discussion underscored a shared commitment to strengthen cooperation and intensify efforts to account for the remaining missing and uphold the rights of families.
A delegation of representatives from Kosovo institutions working on missing persons cases visited the headquarters of the International Commission on Missing Persons in The Hague this week to strengthen cooperation and advance efforts to account for persons missing from the Kosovo conflict, engaging in discussions on the application of scientific, data-driven approaches to locating and identifying missing persons, as well as on enhancing institutional cooperation.
ICMP experts and Kosovo counterparts reviewed ongoing assistance to address cases of misidentification made more than a decade ago, which continue to affect efforts to account for the missing.
“Addressing the issue of missing persons is essential to upholding the rights of families to truth and justice,” said ICMP DG @KatBomberger “Progress depends on institutions working together and applying transparent, reliable methods to ensure that these rights are met in practice and that all families of the missing are continuously updated.”
The visit was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, and to advance the rights of families of the missing.
https://t.co/1EFYiBTT0o
📢 New open position: Budgeting and Reporting Officer (Ukraine)
🌍 Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Requirements:
✅ Education: Post-secondary qualification in financial management, business administration, logistics/supply chain management or relevant field;
✅ Experience: A minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience working in finance and administrative functions;
✅ Languages: Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Ukrainian.
Interested?👉 Check out the details and apply here: https://t.co/WreoLVV2nC
Search and excavation operations are underway at a mass grave site in Iraq’s Nineveh Governorate, following its identification by a witness in Mosul. The site contains three graves believed to hold victims of ISIS crimes.
The work is being carried out by national authorities, including the Directorate for Protection of Mass Graves and Missing Persons and medico-legal teams, with technical and logistical support from ICMP.
In addition to field operations, ICMP continues to support families of the missing through data and blood sample collection, while strengthening coordination and awareness through workshops with communities and government partners.
Nineveh Governor Abdul Qader Al-Dakhil has commended the joint effort and support behind this work.
This initiative is supported by the Government of the Netherlands.
#ICMP #Iraq #Nineveh #MissingPersons #MassGraves