A/RES/79/173 Missing persons priority, as well as to consider the option provided for in articles 31 and 32 of the Convention regarding the Committee on Enforced Disappearances, Recalling also all previous relevant resolutions on missing persons adopted by the General Assembly, as well as the resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, and Security Council resolution 2474 (2019) of 11 June 2019, Recalling further General Assembly resolution 77/220 of 15 December 2022 as well as all previous resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the right to the truth, Noting with deep concern the growing number of armed conflicts in various parts of the world, often involving serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, Noting that the issue of persons reported missing in connection with international or non-international armed conflicts, in particular those who are victims of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, continues to have a negative impact on efforts to put an end to those conflicts and to facilitate peace and reconciliation, and inflicts grievous suffering on the families of missing persons, and stressing in this regard the need to address the issue from, inter alia, a humanitarian and rule of law perspective, recalling the obligations of States and of parties to armed conflict to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, Expressing its concern about the dramatic increase since 2014 in persons reported missing in connection with armed conflict, and recognizing that it is critical for States to address the issue holistically, from prevention to the tracing, location, identification and return of missing persons, Considering that the problem of missing persons may raise questions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as appropriate, Bearing in mind that cases of missing persons involve conduct that may constitute criminal offences, and stressing the importance of ending impunity for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law with respect to missing persons, Expressing its deep concern that thousands of migrants continue to die or go missing each year along perilous routes on land and at sea, in transit and destination countries, and recalling in this regard the adoption of the Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum 10 which, inter alia, requested the SecretaryGeneral to include actionable recommendations on strengthening cooperation on missing migrants and providing humanitarian assistance, Cognizant that States that are parties to an armed conflict have a responsibility for countering the phenomenon of missing persons, taking all appropriate measures to prevent persons from going missing, including, when appropriate, effectively investigating the conditions relating to persons going missing and determining the fate of missing persons, and for recognizing their accountability as regards implementing the relevant mechanisms, policies and laws, while noting the importance for States to take steps to ensure the forensic recovery and identification of remains, where possible, Noting that accountability, including the promotion of truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, is one of the key components of addressing the issue of missing persons, __________________ 10 2/6 Resolution 76/266, annex. 24-24213