On this International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh, stands together with the families of the missing persons who remain unaccounted for from the conflict.

“The families’ right to know the fate of their loved ones is a fundamental human right,” SRSG Ziadeh said.  “When the truth about the missing is uncovered, it provides closure to grieving families, helping to propel healing and restoring relationships within communities.”

SRSG Ziadeh emphasizes the need to fully implement the Declaration on Missing Persons under the EU-facilitated Dialogue, which was endorsed by Belgrade and Pristina in May 2023. She also welcomes the resumption of meetings of the Working Group on Missing Persons, led by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which convened in Geneva, Switzerland in January and July 2024.

SRSG Ziadeh encourages all stakeholders to pursue an inclusive and human rights-based, victim-centered approach.

UNMIK remains committed to advocating for answers on the fate of missing persons and continues to provide support to their families across Kosovo.

Note: According to the ICRC, 6,065 persons went missing as a result of the events in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999. To date, there are 1,612 open cases of missing persons.