A/HRC/16/70 IV. Measures to prevent persons from going missing 25. Under both international humanitarian law and human rights law, States are obliged to take measures to prevent persons from going missing. In its resolution 61/155, the General Assembly called upon States that are parties to an armed conflict to take all appropriate measures to prevent persons from going missing in connection with armed conflicts and account for persons reported missing as a result of such a situation. Such measures, especially those of a legislative and institutional nature, must preferably be adopted in peacetime. 26. National authorities should establish strict lines of command within armed forces, security forces and armed groups so as to ensure effective supervision. 27. Proper identification of members of armed forces or armed groups is a key means of preventing people from going missing in armed conflict. Personal records, identity cards and identity discs are the only secure means of identification.11 Measures should be taken to ensure that these means of identification are mandatory and properly used since they (in particular identity discs) can help to establish the status of the persons who fall into the hands of the adverse party and the identity of those who have been seriously wounded or killed. The issue of identification also involves other populations at risk, such as isolated populations, civilians in conflict zones, displaced persons, the elderly and children.12 Furthermore, the personal data of members of armed forces or armed groups, and of persons at risk, including in particular unaccompanied children, elderly and disabled persons, should be properly registered; this may assist in a later identification of mortal remains. 28. National authorities should register deaths and issue the appropriate certificates. Moreover, an information bureau and graves registration service, as provided for under the Geneva Conventions,13 should be set up. More particularly, national information bureaux should be tasked to collect and forward information (documents and objects) on individuals protected by international humanitarian law (principally prisoners of war and civilian internees) who have fallen into enemy hands. The registration of such persons is fully in keeping with the objectives of humanitarian law, one of which is to protect persons not or no longer taking part in hostilities. By setting up an information bureau in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions, a party to an armed conflict provides itself with a means of obtaining information about individuals who have gone missing either on the battlefield or in enemy-controlled territory, and hence of easing the anguish of their families and relatives. 29. Administrative rules and regulations in keeping with internationally recognized norms regarding such matters as arrest, detention, imprisonment and captivity should be adopted. The security and physical integrity of all those who are not or are no longer taking part in hostilities, in particular of persons deprived of their liberty, should be ensured. For this to function effectively, clear responsibilities should be established at all levels of 11 12 13 Information in this regard was found in the replies to the questionnaire from Armenia, Germany, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Serbia and Spain. See A/63/299, para. 16. For the national information bureau, see first Geneva Convention, arts. 16 and 17(4); second Geneva Convention, arts. 19(2) and 20; third Geneva Convention, arts. 120-123, fourth Geneva Convention, arts. 130, 136-138; Additional Protocol I, art. 33(3); and the 1907 Hague Regulations, art. 14. For the graves registration service, see first Geneva Convention, art. 17(3); second Geneva Convention, art. 20(2); third Geneva Convention, art. 120(6); and fourth Geneva Convention, art. 130(3). 7