This project aims to support the Ukrainian authorities in proper documentation of mass and clandestine graves and other body disposal sites; support in addressing the issue of unidentified human remains, and the collection, management, processing and analysis of data to find large numbers of missing persons using ICMP’s advance data systems (which ensure proper chain of custody for the provision of criminal evidence and will enable large-scale collection of data from families of the missing inside and outside of Ukraine from families of the missing, including genetic family reference samples). ICMP also supports this effort with its state-of-the-art human identification (HID) laboratory system. ICMP works closely with a range of stakeholders, including the Office of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the Security Services, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), families of the missing, and members of the international community. The project aims to benefit families of the missing, domestic judicial processes and justice institutions, and international accountability mechanisms. Through its objectives the project seeks to support Ukraine in accounting for missing and disappeared persons, among other things by initiating a large-scale data collection program to find all missing and disappeared persons, regardless of nationality, religious origin, circumstances of disappearance, or role in the conflict.

The overall objective of the Action is to assist the Government of Ukraine in locating large numbers of missing persons and investigating their disappearance to a standard where evidence can be provided in international criminal trials. The Action also aims to ensure that families of the missing and CSOs increased awareness of their rights and obligations as part of their active participation in processes.
The specific objective of the Action is to enable Ukrainian authorities to investigate cases of missing persons, including mass and clandestine graves and to collect and analyze missing persons data on a large scale by providing access to ICMP’s expert database, data systems, and high throughput HID laboratory.

The desired impact of the Action is to support Ukraine in building and sustaining a process to investigate missing and disappeared persons cases from the ongoing war (regardless of nationality, religious origin, circumstances of disappearance, or role in the conflict) through a process that is grounded in the rule of law.
• Output 1. Families of the missing, CSOs and relevant authorities have essential knowledge and skills to support missing persons data collection and data reporting.
• Output 2. Families of the missing and CSOs are engaged through targeted media campaigns to provide missing persons data.
• Output 3. Data from families of the missing and sites of forensic interest, as well as documentary and other evidence of alleged human rights violations, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is collected and stored in ICMP’s Integrated Data Management System (iDMS).
• Output 4. Coordination and cooperation with relevant international organizations and the diplomatic community is ensured.
• Output 5. Potential mass graves and other sites of forensic interest are investigated in line with standards of evidence required for trials before international tribunals.