The ICRC's objectives in launching a process on "The Missing and their Families" in cooperation with all those involved in dealing with the issue are to:

(a) review all methods of preventing persons from becoming unaccounted for in armed conflict or internal violence and of responding to the needs of families that have lost contact with their relatives;

(b) agree on common and complementary recommendations and operational practices with all those working to prevent persons from becoming unaccounted for and to respond appropriately when people are missing as a result of armed conflict or internal violence;

(c) heighten concern about the issue among State authorities, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.

Between February and mid-December 2002, the ICRC entrusted three studies to research institutes and organized two electronic workshops and six workshops for governmental and non-governmental experts.

These events covered the traditional practices and activities of protection work and restoring family links, the management of human remains, support for the families of missing persons, the collection and management of personal data, and mechanisms for handling cases of missing persons. For each topic, needs and how to meet them were pinpointed, constraints identified, and recommendations and best practices produced. Approximately 120 experts contributed in one way or another to these events.