28 September 2010: Microsoft announced the donation of software to the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) at a press conference held in ICMP’s headquarters in Sarajevo today. The commercial value of Microsoft software donation is 224,938 US dollars.
The software will enable ICMP to improve its operational systems and to continue its vital work in assisting governments to address the issue of missing persons, including the provision of DNA analysis to assist in the identification of persons missing from armed conflict, violations of human rights, or persons missing from natural disasters.
ICMP’s Director General, Ms. Kathryne Bomberger stated, “ICMP’s complex DNA identification laboratory system requires reliable software and Microsoft, which is one of the global leaders in the field, has provided us with an extremely valuable tool for our work. We are grateful to Microsoft for recognizing the importance of our assistance to governments around the world in resolving the fate of missing persons.”
Considering the importance and size of this donation, Mr. Marcel Schneider, General Manager of Microsoft for 19 countries of Central-Eastern Europe came to Sarajevo for this occasion. During the press conference he stated, “I am very glad to have the opportunity to announce our software donation to the ICMP that was made possible through our global initiative “Unlimited Potential.” This donation is a clear example of how technology can help in resolving important human rights issues, in this case assisting governments in identifying missing and disappeared persons. I sincerely hope that our software will provide a solid foundation for ICMP to continue its important and valuable work.”
Microsoft Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of Microsoft’s global project, “Unlimited Potential,” also recognizes the importance of ICMP and attempts from year to year to help the work of international and nongovernmental organizations.
The director of Microsoft BiH Lejla Zukic-Krivdić addressed the conference with the following statement, “Discovering the truth about the fate of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts, violation of human rights or natural disaster is a global issue, and ICMP is the only organization in the world that systematically deals with this complex problem. For this reason, it is very important for Microsoft, as a socially responsible company, to help ICMP in providing assistance in this extremely important issue. I sincerely hope that this software donation will help ICMP to be even more efficient in carrying out its noble work and that we as a company can help them in their work.”
Following the official part of the press conference, a visit to the ICMP’s DNA Laboratory was organized where all the visitors had an opportunity to view ICMP’s technical work.
ICMP is involved in resolving the fate of persons who went missing during armed conflicts, as a result of violations of human rights and during natural disasters. Its worldwide operations include the provision of assistance to the governments of the Western Balkans, Iraq, the Philippines, Chile and Colombia, as well as assistance to Kuwait, Norway, Thailand and South Africa.