Women face great hardship when their male relatives go missing in war. They live in limbo, hanging on to the hope that their loved one is alive, and even after much time has passed, refuse to believe that the person is dead without the proof positive of mortal remains. This uncertainty prevents them from being able to mourn, and thus they cannot begin the long process of healing.

ICRC activities with regard to missing persons are directed in large part toward women, as the majority of those who disappear or are killed during an armed conflict or other situation of violence are men, therefore women are nearly always the ones left behind.