Who is a Missing Person?
Read Law 105/2018Under Law No. 105/2018, a missing person is a person whose relatives do not know their whereabouts as a result of an international or non-international armed conflict, abduction, disaster, or any other reason.
Under the Law, the definition of a missing person is therefore not limited to persons who went missing in connection with wars or armed conflicts.
Who is a Forcibly Disappeared Person?
Under Law No. 105/2018, a forcibly disappeared person is a person who is missing as a result of arrest, detention, abduction, or any other form of deprivation of liberty carried out by State officials, groups or individuals, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the person’s fate or whereabouts, thereby placing the person outside the protection of the law.
Mandate and Functions
Under Law No. 105/2018, the Commission’s mandate is to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing and forcibly disappeared persons and uphold their families’ right to know.
To this end, the Law entrusts the Commission with a range of functions and responsibilities, principally including:
- Tracing and conducting inquiries into the fate and whereabouts of missing and forcibly disappeared persons;
- Collecting, verifying, preserving and protecting information and data;
- Following up on tracing requests and engaging with families throughout the process;
- Searching for, recovering and identifying human remains, in accordance with the law and in coordination with competent authorities;
- Using scientific methods, including biological samples and DNA analysis in cooperation with competent authorities, where applicable;
- Coordinating and cooperating with competent national authorities, institutions and relevant organizations in support of the Commission’s mandate.
The Commission also carries out the other functions and responsibilities entrusted to it under Law No. 105/2018.
Read Law 105/2018
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission
To work independently, in accordance with Law No. 105/2018, to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing and forcibly disappeared persons and uphold their families’ right to know, through tracing, the collection, verification and protection of information, coordination with competent authorities, and keeping families informed throughout the process.
Our vision
A sustainable, institutional national response to the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons in Lebanon that places families’ right to know at its core and is grounded in independence, information protection, and scientific and humanitarian standards, enabling reliable answers about the fate and whereabouts of missing persons.
How We Work
The Commission follows a structured process in handling tracing requests and information concerning missing and forcibly disappeared persons, with a view to protecting information and developing reliable lines of inquiry.
Receiving a Request or Information
1The Commission receives tracing requests, information and statements concerning missing and forcibly disappeared persons from families and other sources.
Documenting and Protecting Information
2Information is recorded and preserved in the Commission’s central records, with appropriate measures to protect its confidentiality and sources.
Verification, Cross-Checking and Analysis
3The Commission verifies, compares and cross-references available information to identify relevant information and develop lines of inquiry.
Developing the Line of Inquiry
4Based on the available information, the Commission determines the tracing, inquiry and follow-up measures required to clarify the person’s fate and whereabouts.
Coordination and Specialized Processes, Where Required
5The Commission coordinates with competent authorities to obtain information and undertake necessary measures, including, where applicable, processes relating to burial sites, human remains, identification and relevant scientific methods.
Keeping the Family Informed and Following Up
6The Commission keeps the family informed throughout the process and continues to follow up on the case as new information becomes available, in accordance with the law and applicable procedures.
Our Independence & Working Principles
The Commission performs its functions in full independence from any other authority, in accordance with Law No. 105/2018. Its work is guided by principles that safeguard the integrity of its work and the protection of persons and information:
Independence and Impartiality
The Commission performs its functions and takes its decisions independently, in accordance with the law and free from external interference or influence.