New York:The United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee has adopted a resolution on "Missing Persons," initiated by Azerbaijan, at its 41st plenary meeting during the 81st session. The resolution, documented as A/C.3/81/L.24, was co-sponsored by 63 Member States from various regions.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the resolution is a continuation of Azerbaijan's initiative that began at the 57th session of the General Assembly in 2002. It aims to reaffirm obligations under international humanitarian law and, where applicable, international human rights law concerning missing persons.

The resolution calls on states involved in armed conflict to take measures to prevent people from going missing and to account for those who have disappeared as a result of such conflicts. It emphasizes the need to end impunity for violations related to missing persons and urges states to cooperate in resolving these cases, including through the identification and preservation of burial sites, with specific mention of individual, collective, and mass graves.

Additionally, it highlights the importance of incorporating the issue of missing persons into peace and peacebuilding processes. The resolution also notes concerns about landmines and other explosive devices hindering efforts to locate missing persons and asks the Secretary-General to report on the resolution's implementation to the Human Rights Council and General Assembly.

A high-level informal meeting of the General Assembly has been requested, involving relevant UN entities and observers, to feature a Secretary-General briefing and an interactive dialogue. The consensus adoption of this resolution reflects the international community's commitment to addressing this humanitarian issue and alleviating the suffering of affected families.