Unresolved issues on missing persons hinder peace - Swiss ambassador

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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• Peace
• Missing Persons
• Reconciliation
• Swiss Ambassador