- August 30, 2025
To mark this extremely important date, two roundtables were organized in Pristina and Belgrade, attended by the main actors of the missing persons issue: the Governmental Commission for
Missing Persons in Kosovo and Serbia, representatives from the Ministry of Justice in Kosovo, as well as representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross in Serbia.
This day was also attended by many family members of missing persons from all nationalities.
It was emphasized that: For more than two decades, thousands of families live every day with the most severe pain and uncertainty – the lack of information about their loved ones. The pain of
the missing knows no time, it does not fade with years, because every door that is not opened and every voice that is not heard is a silent reminder of what we have lost. They say that time heals
wounds, but the opposite is true in the case of missing persons. Many family members are passing away without knowing the fate of their loved ones, and every year this issue is increasingly being overshadowed.
The message of the families was clear:
1. Collective memory that no victim should be forgotten, while respecting their dignity.
2. Call for justice for enforced disappearances and request for stronger intervention by national
and international authorities.
3. Strong support for the families, encouraging solidarity and psychosocial assistance.
4. Commitment to continuing to search for and uncover the truth, so as not to let any case be
forgotten, while building peace and reconciliation.
On the other hand, the Kosovo Commission for Missing Persons informed the families that this year alone, 18 locations have been surveyed within the territory of the Republic of Kosovo and
that the work will continue, using Lidar and GPR technology. Representatives of both commissions pledged that work will begin in a location in Serbia in September.
Conclusions and recommendations:
• The issue of missing persons is still politicized and this does not serve the cause.
• Families have the right to know the fate of their loved ones, but also the right to compensation and reparations.
• Cooperation between the two commissions and working groups is essential and should be restored.
• Local associations should have more support from local institutions.
• The international factor should be more engaged, so that the entire process is in harmony with the needs and demands of the parties involved.
