Visits to places of detention and recording the identity of each detainee also help to prevent disappearances. When the ICRC collects information about people who have gone missing it endeavours to find out the circumstances in which their family lost contact with them and initiates searches in every possible place: hospitals, prisons, camps for displaced people and places of worship.

In all countries and contexts in which it is present, the ICRC regularly reminds belligerents that they have a duty to adopt the necessary measures to prevent disappearances and it immediately demands clarification on the fate of those that have gone missing. Every effort must be made to alleviate the anguish of women and families who suffer the disappearance of a loved one.