The Missing
The tragedy of missing persons is as old as mankind itself, but new and effective ways of addressing this global challenge are emerging.
During the last two decades there has been a striking evolution in the manner in which the issue of the missing is addressed, particularly following conflict and disasters. There has also been a corresponding rise in awareness of the need for a concerted international response.
Recent advances have been propelled by international efforts to foster the development of peaceful states through transitional justice and rule-of-law strategies that attempt to redress the legacy of violent conflict and massive human rights abuses. Natural disasters and mass migration fueled by climate change have also created new missing persons scenarios that require dedicated and effective responses.
Meanwhile, developments in the field of genetics, the use of modern forensic methods and the creation of dedicated databases have made it possible to locate and identify missing persons with a level of efficiency and certainty that was not previously possible.
