Ante Mortem Data Collection

OR

Danna Ingleton Ante Mortem Data Collection

Canadian Red Cross Tel.: (613) 740-1996

antemortemdata@redcross.ca

Ante Mortem Data Collection

Assisting in the Identification of the Missing in the former Yugoslavia

The Ante Mortem Data (AMD) Project seeks to find out the fate of those who went missing during the decade of conflict in the Balkans by collecting information from relatives that may help to iden-tify human remains exhumed from mass graves.

What is the AMD Project?

The CRC was invited to assist in the AMD pro-ject by the ICRC because persons like yourself have resettled here in Canada. This project is being administered by The Restoring Family Links Program of the CRC, whose mandate is to restore links between families affected by inter-national war, conflict and disaster. For more information on the Restoring Family Links Pro-gram please refer to the CRC website: www.redcross.ca.

Why is the Canadian Red Cross involved in AMD project?

Contact your local Red Cross Branch www.redcross.ca Humanity │ Impartiality │ Neutrality │Independence

Voluntary Service │ Unity │Universality

The Canadian Red Cross is a non-profit hu-manitarian organization dedicated to im-proving the situation of vulnerable people in Canada and throughout the world. We are a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 183 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Fed-eration of the Red cross and Red Crescent. In Canada, the Red Cross provides a wide range of assistance to millions of people through our disaster relief, injury prevention and Humanitarian Issues programming.

The Canadian Red Cross works to improve the lives of the vulnerable by

mobilizing the power of humanity.

www.redcross.ca/antemortemdata

Ante Mortem Data Collection

Background As a result of the con-flicts in the former Yugoslavia between 1992-1995 and in Kos-ovo in 1998-1999,

an estimated 40 000 persons were reported missing by their relatives through the Red Cross Tracing Ser-vice. Today, there are still some 19 000 persons missing.

Unfortunately, given the time that has passed, and the events that led to the disappearances of people during the conflicts, it is highly unlikely that the missing persons will be found alive. In a number of regions within former Yugoslavia, international ex-perts have been excavating mass graves and many human remains have been exhumed. The Canadian Red Cross (CRC), in conjunction with the Interna-tional Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is now collecting AMD to support the efforts of the au-thorities and pathologists to reduce the number of those unidentified human remains.

What is Ante Mortem Data (AMD)?

AMD is comprehensive information given by the person who last saw the missing person and knows the circumstances under which they disappeared, or by a person who knew him/her well. The question-naire asks for detailed information regarding cloth-ing, physical characteristics, medical and dental traits, as well as personal effects carried by the per-son at the time of dis-Filling in an AMD questionnaire is not a statement that the missing person is dead, but a tool that might contribute to the identification process as a whole.

What can I expect in the interview?

The AMD questionnaire consists of almost 200 questions and takes between 2-3 hours to complete. If you have photographs or personal documents relating to the missing person, it would be helpful if you bring these as well, so as we can make a copy of them.

The CRC recognizes that having to provide and re-count the circumstances of a relative’s disappearance

Why should I meet with the CRC?

Attending an interview with the CRC in which an AMD questionnaire is completed is your opportu-nity to contribute to the identification process of missing persons in the former Yugoslavia.

Furthermore, as a relative of a missing person you may be the only person who can supply detailed information required. Considering how many years have already gone by, it is vital to record this infor-mation while you are still able to remember details accurately.

Can I speak to the CRC with an interpreter?

Yes, if you require an interpreter, the CRC will be happy to arrange one for you in your language for any telephone calls you have with us and/or for the AMD collection interview. We simply require that you notify us of this need as soon as possible.

may be a painful experience, there-fore the CRC will endeavour to con-duct the interview in a sensitive man-ner, and provide

information on where you might seek additional support. For support during the interview, you are welcome to have a friend or relative with you.

the CRC is in information gathering from families about missing relatives. The collection of blood sam-ples for DNA testing is the responsibility of the Inter-national Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm whether, when, or how blood samples may be collected in Can-ada. For more information please refer to their web-site: www.ic-mp.org.

What use is giving AMD if I can’t give a DNA sample?

The best person to provide AMD is not always the same person who will provide a blood sample for DNA. Furthermore, even if a blood sample cannot be provided at the same time as AMD collection, it may be possible for a blood sample to be provided at a later stage.

Will the CRC take a blood sample for DNA testing?

No, we will not be col-lecting your blood for DNA testing. The role of

What are the chances of my loved one being identified?

Unfortunately, we are unable to predict the chances of a missing person being identified. It is unlikely that all those who died will be discovered and exhumed, nor will that all exhumed human remains be identified. However, it is still important for families to provide this information if they are able to do so. It is our hope that more people giving information will lead to more

identifications, and a person’s contri-bution to this proc-ess may assist in resolving the fate of their own rela-tive, or that of an-other person.