States Bear Legal Obligation to Investigate Disappearances and Inform Families, Says ICMP
The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) emphasizes that states have a fundamental legal obligation to investigate cases of disappearance and to provide families of the missing with information regarding the progress and outcomes of these investigations. Kathryne Bomberger, Director-General of ICMP, stated that every missing person has a name, a life, and a family, and an equal right to be accounted for, regardless of their status or circumstances. Families are entitled to truth and justice, and these are not mere aspirations but rights that states must uphold. The issue of missing persons extends beyond conflict zones to include cases arising from migration, organized crime, and disasters. Regardless of the context, states are responsible for responding effectively, transparently, and in accordance with the rule of law, ensuring that the rights of affected individuals are upheld without discrimination. 
