What is meant by the management of unidentified bodies and why is the ICRC addressing this topic?
When we talk about the management of dead bodies, we are referring to the series of steps taken from the time when the bodies are found and collected until they are handed over. This includes their identification but also the investigation carried out to determine the possible causes and circumstances of death. From a humanitarian point of view, it is about ensuring that the bodies are handled appropriately and in a dignified manner and about respecting the right of the families and of society to know what happened and to reclaim, name, keep a vigil for and pay tribute to their dead. This topic is of particular interest to the ICRC in connection with people reported missing during armed conflicts and other situations of violence, as families have a fundamental right to know the whereabouts of their loved ones who have gone missing in those situations. The appropriate management of dead bodies is a key step in giving the families an answer regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones.
