FAQ
Why was the IIMP established?
The tragedy of missing persons has long been recognised as a cause of immeasurable human suffering and a barrier to reconciliation, justice and lasting peace in Syria. Syrian victims, including survivors and family members of missing persons, Syrian and international civil society organizations, and international agencies with specialist expertise have been working hard to address this issue for many years. Nonetheless, after 12 years of conflict in Syria, there was insufficient progress to provide answers to families about what had happened to their loved ones. The IIMP was therefore established to determine the fate and whereabouts of missing persons and to support their families. It should also help to coordinate the efforts of other actors working on this issue, and ensure the issue of missing persons in Syria is a priority on the international agenda.
Who is a ‘missing person’ for the IIMP?
According to the IIMP’s terms of reference, a missing person is:
“Any person whose fate and/or whereabouts is not clearly known, irrespective of the reasons and causes for them going missing, whether they relate to acts of other persons or not, and whether there is a link or not to the armed conflict [in Syria.]”
As such, its mandate includes any person believed to be currently missing in Syria or to have initially gone missing in Syria, regardless of their nationality, when they disappeared, or the party believed to be responsible for their disappearance. This includes those who first went missing in another country, as well as those who are believed to no longer be within Syria’s borders.
People who went missing under many different circumstances are included in the IIMP’s mandate: those missing because of abductions, enforced disappearances or any arbitrary deprivation of liberty, or in other contexts such as displacement, migration, or because of military operations.
Who is a ‘victim’ for the purposes of the IIMP mandate?
According to the IIMP’s terms of reference, the term ‘victims’ includes persons who are missing as well as any individual who have suffered harm as a result of the person going missing, such as family members. The term also includes survivors who were previously missing.
Will the IIMP duplicate the work of others?
The resolution establishing the Institution called for it to work “in close cooperation and complementarity with all relevant actors,” and listed non-duplication as a key principle guiding its work. The Institution therefore intends to build on the important work of other actors and to cooperate closely with them to avoid duplication and to take advantage of existing expertise. This is also important within a victim-centred approach to reduce the risk of re-traumatisation.
What are the IIMP’s terms of reference?
The terms of reference are one of the main documents interpreting the IIMP’s mandate and guiding its work. They emphasise key principles and translate them into concrete activities to deliver the institution’s mandate. They also offer flexibility for it to adapt its programs and priorities when circumstances change over time. The terms of reference are complemented by other more detailed policies, procedures, operational standards and working methods, which are being developed as the IIMP becomes operational.
When will the IIMP start working?
The Institution started to become operational from April 2024. Initially, it is focusing on developing its working methods, information and security architecture, and cooperation agreements with partners. It will deliver its substantive programs, including registering cases of missing persons from family members and support programming, in line with the appointment of the IIMP Head, and reach full staffing levels in 2025.
For more detailed information on the IIMP’s expected tasks during 2024, please see the Secretary-General’s report.
Where is the IIMP based?
The IIMP is hosted in Geneva, Switzerland. The host state was chosen by the UN Secretary-General. Victims including survivors and family members will not necessarily need to visit the IIMP’s premises in person to register cases of missing persons. In the future, the institution may also have field presences in countries with large Syrian populations in addition to the headquarters in Geneva.
Does the IIMP have access to work inside Syria?
At the time of writing, the IIMP does not enjoy the cooperation of the Government of Syria to work inside the country. It will continue to request such access through dialogue with all relevant actors. It can also work on many tasks to deliver its mandate without access to Syria.
What about criminal accountability?
The IIMP has a humanitarian mandate, meaning that its primary goal is to reduce the suffering of families of the missing by giving them answers about the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, and the circumstances in which they went missing, and providing support to them.
Pursuing criminal accountability goals is not within the institution’s mandate, and is addressed by other international bodies such as the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Commission of Inquiry.
What role might the IIMP have in future political negotiations in Syria?
The Institution is independent and politically neutral, and it will address missing persons’ cases regardless of the cause of their going missing or the party believed to be responsible for a person’s disappearance.
Its mandate is humanitarian, to relieve the suffering of families seeking news about the fate of their loved ones, and it has no role in political negotiations over the future of Syria. The IIMP’s ‘do no harm’ and victim-centric approaches prevent it taking any action that might harm victims.
How can civil society organisations share information with the IIMP?
At present, procedures for secure transfer and storage of data are still being developed and the IIMP is not yet ready to receive information about missing persons. The IIMP is consulting civil society organisations, including families’ associations, and other partners as it develops processes for cooperation in this area.
Who could the IIMP share its data with?
Data security and confidentiality are key principles of the institution. A framework for the use and potential sharing of data provided by individuals will be established in line with its mandate and international standards. The IIMP will not share information with any party where doing so would put partners, individuals, or staff at risk, including reprisals.
How long will the IIMP take to complete its work?
From the experience of other countries that have suffered crises of missing persons, we know that finding the truth and providing support to those affected can be a very long process, and that unfortunately it is not possible to determine the fate and whereabouts of all those missing. There is no specific timeframe for the IIMP’s work to end.
As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, the IIMP is being designed to evolve into a Syrian national institution or hybrid Syrian-international institution in the future if and when circumstances permit. The IIMP’s operations must be implemented in full compliance with its guiding principles of gender inclusivity, non-discrimination, “do no harm”, independence, impartiality, transparency, and confidentiality of sources and information.
Who funds the IIMP?
The institution is funded under the regular budget of the UN, and its budget comes from the regular contributions of all Member States.