The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) has so far made 250 positive DNA matches for persons whose remains were exhumed late last year from the mass grave in Tomašica (northwest BiH). This is in addition to many more DNA identifications made by ICMP in 2013 for other persons missing from the armed conflict in 1990’s.

In total, ICMP has carried out DNA identifications on circa 14,500 missing persons in BiH. This work on properly exhuming and scientifically identifying human remains from the BiH armed conflict is being carried out in part through an EU funded project supporting the ICMP.

By assigning additional funds to ICMP this year, the EU continues to fund the activities of the ICMP in BiH until December 2015. The new EU donation, worth two mill EUR is aimed at further funding ICMP’s technical assistance to the local authorities in locating and identifying missing persons from the armed conflicts of the 1990’s.

Since 2004, the EU has supported ICMP’s work with funding worth over 5 mill EUR.

As a result of EU funding, local authorities will retain access to ICMP’s expertise, including DNA identification systems, forensic anthropology and archaeology assistance with complex mass grave sites, as well as institution building and legislative assistance. EU funds will also make it possible for ICMP to continue assisting the local authorities in the ongoing unidentified (NN) Working Group Process, a project that began in May 2013 with the aim of reviewing all mortuary facilities, forensically examining the remains found and identifying them through DNA analysis.

It is expected that more clandestine grave sites could be discovered during 2014 through the use of aerial imagery. The involvement of EU-funded ICMP’s forensic experts will also be crucial in this regard.

Today over 70% of missing persons have been accounted for in BiH, which is an unprecedented global achievement. Some 9,000 persons more are unaccounted for and this will require local and international institutions to continue their efforts.

ICMP has also been helping the regional governments for years through capacity building to establish a sustainable domestic process for locating 40,000 missing persons and identifying them through scientific means and a rule-of-law process. It has also helped create the BiH Missing Persons Institute, which searches for missing persons regardless of ethnicity, religion or national origin.

The importance of resolving the issue of missing persons is about ensuring sustainable peace and security in the wider region. The families, on the other hand, have a legal right to learn about the fate and truth surrounding the disappearance of family members, as well as a proper legal investigation about each missing person.