The Russian Federation has long been confronted with the problem of people disappearing as a result of armed conflict and other situation of violence, and with all the suffering it entails. In particular, thousands of people have gone missing as a result of the conflicts in the northern Caucasus, leaving their families anxious for news.

Not knowing what happened to their loved ones takes a heavy emotional toll on the families, who often lack the legal and administrative assistance they need to obtain the information they seek. The ICRC is currently handling the cases of tens of thousands of families all over the world who have no news of their relatives. The right to know is a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law and human rights law which must be uphold.

The exhibition in Grozny consists of 18 displays of different countries where the ICRC is providing information on how to prevent disappearances spurring the search for people who have gone missing and assisting their families. The exhibition also places on display the main provisions of international humanitarian law applicable to missing persons. Similar events have been held in Africa, Latin America, the former Yugoslavia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.