ICRC
Definition
The International Committee of the Red Cross, an independent humanitarian organisation that has developed widely referenced guidelines on the handling of the dead in armed conflict, the collection of ante-mortem data, and the search for missing persons.
- Full name
- International Committee of the Red Cross
- Status
- Independent humanitarian organisation
- Relevant guidance
- Handling of the dead in armed conflict
- Also covers
- Ante-mortem data collection, missing persons search
Common questions
Why does a humanitarian body publish forensic guidance?+
Its mandate under international humanitarian law includes restoring family links and ensuring dignified treatment of the dead in conflict, so it developed practical guidance for combatants, forensic teams, and states on recovering and recording the dead.
Do ICRC guidelines carry binding legal force?+
They are not themselves binding treaty law, but they are widely adopted as best-practice reference by states, tribunals, and forensic teams operating in conflict and disaster settings, and they draw on binding obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
Related terms
- Ante-Mortem Data (AMD)
- Information gathered from families and other sources about a missing person before their remains are identified: physical descriptions, medical and dental records,...
- Dignity of Remains
- The ethical principle that human remains should be handled with care and respect regardless of the circumstances of death or the condition...
- Repatriation
- The return of human remains, or cultural objects associated with those remains, to the country, community, or family from which they originate....
- Secondary Context
- A location where remains have been deposited after being moved from the primary deposition site. Non-disturbance of secondary contexts means not excavating...
- Victim Family Liaison
- The structured process of maintaining communication between an investigation team and the relatives of victims or missing persons. Effective liaison involves both...