The Hague Records Authority/Meeting with ICMP, towards a 10-year plan for missing persons

2026-02-24 19:21:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Hague Records Authority/Meeting with ICMP, towards a 10-year plan for

An official meeting was held at the headquarters of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) between representatives of the Authority for Information on Documents of the Former State Security (AIDSSH) and ICMP leaders, with a focus on strengthening cooperation in addressing the issue of missing persons during the communist regime in Albania, in accordance with the principles of the rule of law.

The meeting was held with the participation of Dr. Gentiana Sula, President of AIDSSH, ICMP leaders led by Ms. Kathryne Bomberger, as well as members of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Eri Mile and Mr. Saimir Korreshi.

In her speech, Ms. Bomberger emphasized that addressing missing persons cases requires a sustainable rule of law approach, where administrative and institutional investigations must continue regardless of the time that has passed, in line with international practices and experiences.

During the presentation, Dr. Gentiana Sula presented the steps taken by AIDSSH, the current legal mandate, the increasing number of requests from family members, the non-invasive actions carried out in the field, as well as the legal and procedural difficulties that affect the pace and effectiveness of the process.

The members of the Authority highlighted the need for further clarification of the legal and sub-legal framework, strengthening institutional capacities and clearer definition of inter-institutional roles, in order to effectively fulfill the mandate of AIDSSH.

The MPs present expressed their support for undertaking the necessary legal and institutional changes, emphasizing the national importance of this process and the need for concrete results for family members.

During the meeting, AIDSSH and ICMP agreed to: draft an assessment report on the current situation, prepare a 10-year action plan to strengthen institutional capacities and advance the process of finding and identifying missing persons.

At the end of the meeting, the End User Agreement (EULA) for the use of the IDMS system was signed, which regulates the access, processing and protection of personal data and limits the use of information only for official purposes.

Following the agenda of the visit to The Hague, an information and coordination meeting was also held at the Embassy of the Republic of Albania, where information was exchanged on the progress of cooperation with ICMP and further steps that could be taken to advance this process were discussed, in coordination with the relevant institutions.

The meeting in The Hague marks an important step towards consolidating inter-institutional and international cooperation in addressing the issue of missing persons during the communist regime in Albania.

About ICMP

The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is an intergovernmental organization based in The Hague that helps states and societies address the issue of missing persons as a result of armed conflict, serious human rights violations, and disasters. ICMP operates in accordance with international human rights and rule of law standards, providing technical, legal, and institutional assistance, including scientific identification through DNA and supporting families in their right to know the truth.

About Ms. Kathryne Bomberger

Kathryne Bomberger is the Executive Director of ICMP and an internationally recognized expert in the field of missing persons, the rule of law, and human rights. She has led and contributed to complex identification and institution-building processes in countries that have experienced armed conflict or repressive regimes, promoting a sustainable, law-based approach, accountability, and respect for the dignity of victims and their families./ CNA