A/HRC/7/78 page 77 Bearing in mind the effective search for and identification of missing persons through traditional forensic methods, and recognizing that great technological progress has been achieved in the field of DNA forensic sciences, which could significantly assist efforts to identify missing persons, Noting that the issue of persons reported missing in connection with international armed conflicts, in particular those who are victims of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, continues to have a negative impact on efforts to put an end to those conflicts and causes suffering to the families of missing persons, and stressing in this regard the need to address the issue from a humanitarian perspective, among others, Welcoming the conclusions of the International Conference of Governmental and Non-Governmental Experts convened by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva from 19 to 21 February 2003 on “The missing: action to resolve the problem of people unaccounted for as a result of armed conflict or internal violence and to assist their families” and its recommendations to address the problems of missing persons and their families, Recalling the Agenda for Humanitarian Action, in particular its general objective 1, to “respect and restore the dignity of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts or other situations of armed violence and of their families”, adopted at the Twenty-eighth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in Geneva from 2 to 6 December 2003, and resolution 3 on the reaffirmation and implementation of international humanitarian law entitled “Preserving human life and dignity in armed conflict”, adopted at the Thirtieth International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, held in Geneva from 26 to 30 November 2007, Taking note of the resolution on missing persons adopted on 18 October 2006 by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at its 115th Assembly, Welcoming the ongoing regional efforts to address the question of missing persons, 1. Urges States to strictly observe and respect and to ensure respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and, where applicable, in the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977; 2. Calls upon States that are parties to an armed conflict to take all appropriate measures to prevent persons from going missing in connection with armed conflict and account for persons reported missing as a result of such a situation; 3. Reaffirms the right of families to know the fate of their relatives reported missing in connection with armed conflicts; 4. Also reaffirms that each party to an armed conflict, as soon as circumstances permit and, at the latest, from the end of active hostilities, shall search for the persons who have been reported missing by an adverse party;