The ICRC is often obliged to take the place of negligent or overwhelmed authorities by collecting information on missing persons and carrying out active searches. In every case, however, it brings pressure to bear on the relevant authorities to remind them of their duties in this respect. The ICRC will, when necessary, set in motion the process of exhumation of mortal remains, inform the families and return to them the remains of their loved ones once they have been identified. The ICRC also advises forensics organizations or practitioners to enable them to improve the identification of missing persons.