BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 2. The problem of missing persons remains unresolved and prevents not only individuals but also entire communities from moving forward, hindering reconciliation and lasting peace, Swiss Ambassador to Azerbaijan Thomas Stähli said at the international conference “Addressing the problems of missing persons: upholding the right to know for the families," Trend reports.
“When addressing the issue of missing persons around the world, we must remember that families and communities are torn apart by the uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. International humanitarian law, both in international and non-international contexts, obliges authorities to account for missing persons and provide families with any information available. Through our collective efforts, we can create and sustain the political will to act and offer answers, for example, by opening state and military archives for this purpose.,” said the Ambassador.
According to Thomas Stähli, while every case involving missing persons is distinct, there are important takeaways from various methods; thus, it's crucial to exchange stories.
“We can also exchange expertise, share best practices, and offer innovative solutions. While every situation is unique and presents its own challenges, there are invaluable lessons to be learned from each other's approaches. The Global Alliance for the Missing is committed to leveraging this collective knowledge, for instance, through peer-to-peer support between states.
Many members of the Global Alliance possess specialized expertise that can be shared, such as the preservation, excavation, and examination of mass graves, the collection of information, the identification of remains, and the use of new technologies in searching for missing persons,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, the Ambassador mentioned that, participation from families in search procedures and national systems is not only beneficial but crucial for shaping effective strategies.
“Those directly affected must always be at the center of our efforts, and the fate of missing persons should never be used as a political tool. The voices, needs, and experiences of families are invaluable in shaping effective responses,” Stähli added.
The Ambassador called for significant bilateral and regional cooperation, as well as interaction with associations of family members and international organizations, to raise attention to the issue of missing persons in the political debate and turn commitments into concrete actions.
Baku is hosting an international conference on “Addressing the problems of missing persons: upholding the right to know for the families.”
The event started with an address by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the conference, which was read out by the Head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Citizens Ali Naghiyev.
Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Central Agency for Tracing and Restoration of Family Links Florence Anselmo, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye Zafer Tarikdaroglu and other officials also take part in the event.
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