13. Functions and duties of the OMP

(i)

Upon the conclusion of an investigation, where the OMP concludes that the person to whom a complaint relates is a missing person or is

where further investigations reveal that a conclusion reported in an interim report or report is erroneous, the OMP shall notify the relative of the same, and simultaneously inform the

in providing interim reports, reports, or information to a relative of a missing person, the order of priority between relatives shall be the order specified in section 27;

interim reports and reports shall only be issued to facilitate the issuance of Certificates of

to provide to any relative of a missing person or any other complainant, wherever the OMP is able to do so, information relating to the whereabouts of a missing person, if found to be alive, subject to the consent of the person found alive;

to provide relatives of a missing person, information relating to the status of an ongoing investigation, pertaining to such missing person, unless the OMP is of the view that such would hinder the ongoing investigation or that it is not in the best interests of the missing person:

at the conclusion of an investigation the OMP shall, subject to the provisions of section 15(1)-

where the missing person is deceased or his whereabouts are unknown, inform the relatives of the missing person and other complainant as the case may be, of the circumstances in which such person went missing and his fate;

where the missing person’s whereabouts are known, subject to sub-paragraph (b) inform the relatives of the missing person of the circumstances in which such person went missing.

to provide, or facilitate the provision of, administrative assistance, and welfare services including where required, psycho-social support, to the relatives of the missing person;

to recommend that the relevant authority grant reparations to missing persons and / or relatives of missing persons, including but not limited to compensation and / or recommend the provision of other administrative and welfare services including psycho-social services;

to develop and enforce a system for victim and witness protection:

to create, manage and maintain a database which will include all particulars concerning missing persons;

to inform victims, relatives, witnesses and other informants who provide information to the OMP, of their right to directly refer matters to relevant authorities, including their right to report serious crimes to the relevant law enforcement or prosecuting authority and of the availability of any mechanism through which they may make claims for administrative relief;

to take appropriate steps towards creating public awareness of the causes, incidence and effects of missing persons, and towards creating public support for fulfilling the needs of the relatives of missing persons and facilitating their access to economic, psycho-social, legal and administrative support;

to make recommendations to the relevant authorities, relevant to its mandate, including recommendations relating to-

the prevention of future disappearances, based on patterns identified in the course of the work of the OMP;

the means and methods of commemoration and acknowledgment;

the handling of unidentifiable remains and identifiable remains;

the handling of cases in which either circumstances or whereabouts of missing persons cannot be clarified;

the publishing of information on issues of missing persons for public knowledge with due consideration to all relevant laws pertaining to confidentiality and protection of data;

the development of national laws and regulations related to missing persons; and

reparations, psycho-social support and other means to improve social and economic conditions of victims and relatives of missing persons: