Aliona Luniova: Diffusion of responsibilities in the institution of the Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances may complicate the missing people search process

Any distribution of the Commissioner for Persons Missing under Special Circumstances powers must be balanced and justified, and there must be a clear understanding of establishing effective communication strategy on this critical topic between family members of those who go missing and the government in the future. Without an authorized entity, it will be challenging to find out the fate of missing persons and investigate the facts of their disappearance.

It was emphasized by Aliona Luniova, Advocacy Manager at ZMINA Human Rights Center, representative of the secretariat of Ukraine 5 AM Coalition, during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. 

“It is very important to say here that any dispersion of responsibilities this official between other agencies, which is now being declared, must be balanced and justified, and we must understand how family members of those who go missing will be able to communicate with the state on this topic in the future when the issues arise,” she said and emphasized that it is essential that there is such a legally authorized person, who is an accepted member always in touch with families.

Aliona Luniova noted that the Ombudsman is defined by law as a person responsible for coordinating the state in the search for persons in coordination with the families of the disappeared, and it is imperative to understand who will be the communicator in the future.

“And here we urge the state to make up its mind: not just to disperse the responsibilities and say that now all these entities are engaged. We have been working on this topic for too long, and we are well aware that having no authorized entity means that no one will deal with this issue. It will be complicated to find out the fate of the missing, and in general, what the investigation of a particular fact of disappearance, and understand what the state policy will be related to the realization of the rights of missing persons and their families,” she explained.

It should be noted that in April 2022, Ukraine introduced the institution of the Commissioner for Missing Persons under Special Circumstances. However, in August of this year, it was reported that the government decided to distribute its powers between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Defence Intelligence and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. 

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