Even today, the fate of around 7,600 people out of a total of more than 32,000 victims who disappeared during the past war in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still unknown.
The aforementioned 7,600 missing persons are among those whose fate is the most difficult to shed light on, as they are often victims of war crimes.
Representatives of the International Commission for the Search for the Missing (ICMP), Institute for the Missing in BiH, BiH. of Justice, the European Union and the Kingdom of Sweden announce further engagement, synergy, expert or financial assistance, in the process of searching for the missing, in which an immeasurable contribution has been made so far by those who find this process most emotionally painful – the family members of the victims.
The results of the process of searching for missing persons in the period from 2020 to 2025, including continued support to the families of the missing, identifications based on DNA analysis, as well as the strengthening of forensic capacities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were presented today in Sarajevo at the European House during the final event and accompanying panel discussion in the project “Practical Assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Resolving the Issue of Persons Missing during the Conflict of the 1990s and Steps Towards a Sustainable Domestic Process”.
The organizer of the event, whose goal is also plans for the continuation of the search process, was the ICMP with the support of the European Union and the Kingdom of Sweden, and one of the participants of the meeting was Kada Hotić, Deputy President of the Association of the Movement of Mothers of the Enclaves of Srebrenica and Žepa.
The Head of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luigi Soreca, told reporters that the completion of the aforementioned project does not mean the end of cooperation, and reminded that the European Union has been supporting the work of the ICMP in its important mission of seeking justice and reconciliation for more than 20 years.
“The European Union has invested more than 15 million euros in the work of the ICMP because we have supported their key activities – primarily establishing the identity of the missing, strengthening the capacity of the institution itself and, most importantly, helping the families of victims to learn the truth about the fate of their loved ones. The search for the missing does not only have a humanitarian aspect, but is also a very important element of achieving justice, the rule of law and reconciliation,” said Soreca.
He emphasizes the significant results in the work of the ICMP – from the establishment of the law and the Institute for Missing Persons to the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is now an example for other countries in the world in this activity.
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, Soreka announces further support of the European Union to ICMP, with the aim of continuing to strengthen trust, unity and prospects for the future, as he said.
Helena Lagerlof, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina, also announced her country’s further support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in continuing the process of searching for the missing. This process is very important for achieving justice, the rule of law and true reconciliation in the country, she emphasizes.
“ICMP’s experience, the expertise they have developed, is also helpful to other countries in the world that are in the process of achieving justice in cases of war horrors, and one such example is certainly Ukraine,” said the Swedish Ambassador.
Head of ICMP’s Western Balkans Program Samira Krehić states that more than 32 thousand victims disappeared during the past war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. More than 75 percent have been found, but the fate of about 7,600 people is still unknown.
“In the complex search process established in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ICMP provides professional, expert assistance in the processes of victim identification, exhumation and processing of mortal remains, as well as on the social and political level, assisting civil society organizations. The process of finding the missing and protecting the rights of their families in Bosnia and Herzegovina, established after the war, is today an example for other countries in the world that are facing such and similar problems. It is becoming increasingly relevant on a global level, given the growing number of conflicts, the migrant crisis, human trafficking and natural disasters caused by climate change,” said Krehić, among other things.
According to her, the process of finding the missing in Bosnia and Herzegovina is based on the principles of the rule of law, the active participation of all associations and individuals from the families of the missing, mutual cooperation of the institutions involved in this process and the great support of the international community, she also stated.
For today’s event at the European House, Krehić emphasizes that the goal is not only to present the results of the last five years, but also models or plans for the continuation and efficiency of the search for the missing.
“This issue is important not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina but also for peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Krehić concluded.
