UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo

In Retrospect:
Faces turned skyward, a young boy’s excitement captures a moment of hope in 1999. Following a period of profound hardship, scenes like this reflected the resilience of people and their hopes for the future.
Photo: UNMIK.

🇺🇳UNMIK welcomed a delegation of the Austrian Parliamentary Commission for the Federal Armed Forces, led by its Chairman, Dr Reinhard Bösch, and accompanying Austrian Armed Forces officers led by BG Herbert Roman Sailer.

They were briefed by SRSG Peter Due on the Mission’s mandate, priorities and ongoing work in support of peace, stability, human rights and trust-building among all communities in Kosovo.

The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with Austrian personnel serving in UNMIK’s Military Liaison Office and learn more about their work and contribution to the Mission.

Engaging with communities in northern 👇

SRSG Peter Due spent the day with political and civil society actors across North Mitrovica to discuss recent developments, concerns and local peacebuilding efforts.

Highlights from the visit:

➡️Discussion with Serbian List representatives on key issues affecting local communities.
➡️Meeting with the University Rector regarding challenges facing higher education institutions.
➡️Exchange with local civil society on trust-building, community concerns, and ongoing developments.
➡️Visit to the RADC Learning Center to learn about educational initiatives and community needs.
➡️Discussion at Community Building Mitrovica on fostering social cohesion.

UNMIK remains committed to supporting all communities across Kosovo! 🤝

SRSG Peter Due visited HANDIKOS yesterday and met Executive Director Afrim Maliqi to discuss the organization’s work and the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Kosovo.

He reaffirmed UNMIK’s commitment to working with HANDIKOS and other partners to advance equal rights and full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Respect for dignity, individual autonomy, and full and effective participation in society must remain at the heart of these efforts.

Removing physical, social, and institutional barriers is essential to building an inclusive society that leaves no one behind.

📌Democracy and Technology Kosovo launched “Information Integrity in Kosovo, January–June 2026,” today, presenting the findings of six months of research into Kosovo’s rapidly evolving online information environment.

👉Supported by UNMIK, the event brought together representatives of public institutions, international organizations, civil society, media and academia.

📝The report identifies key trends and harmful narratives, including the growing use of AI-generated content and synthetic media to amplify political polarization, inter-ethnic hostility and digital violence against women in public life. It also points to encouraging signs of increasing public demand for credible information and substantive debate.

“Protecting the integrity of the information space is a collective responsibility” SRSG Peter Due said during his keynote remarks at the start of today's event.

UNMIK remains committed to working alongside partners to monitor digital threats to peace and security, strengthen digital literacy across communities and support independent journalism.

Efforts to strengthen the , safeguard judicial independence and ensure access to justice for all communities were in focus during a meeting today between UNMIK SRSG Peter Due and the Chair of the Kosovo Judicial Council Rrustem Thaqi.

SRSG Due reaffirmed UNMIK’s commitment to supporting an effective, inclusive and multi-ethnic judicial system, including through assistance in court administration, language rights, digitalization and archive renovation. He underlined the importance of an impartial judiciary in strengthening public confidence and building trust across communities.

Chair Thaqi expressed appreciation for UNMIK’s continued support, including in managing court archives, improving judicial infrastructure, and enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of the justice system. They also discussed opportunities for further cooperation in these areas.

SRSG Peter Due visited Visoki Dečani Monastery today to meet with Father Sava Janjić. Father Sava shared perspectives and concerns regarding developments affecting the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Kosovo Serb community.

SRSG Due took note of the concerns raised and reaffirmed UNMIK’s commitment to dialogue, trust-building, freedom of religion, and lasting peace and stability in a multiethnic Kosovo.

Victims and their families must remain at the centre of initiatives to resolve missing persons cases

Efforts to determine the fate of persons still missing from the conflict in Kosovo must remain inclusive, grounded in human rights and – above all – centred on victims and their families.

On today’s International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK Peter Due said
despite significant progress, many continue to live with the pain of not knowing.

“The issue of missing persons must never be politicized. Meaningful advancement depends on cooperation, trust and a shared commitment to giving families the answers they deserve.”

More than 1,500 persons remain missing since the end of the conflict in Kosovo. The recent recovery of human remains in Zubin Potok believed to belong to at least 23 individuals is a powerful reminder that, even after decades of waiting, answers may still be found.

“We stand with all families who have waited so long for closure and we call for their rights and needs to remain at the heart of every effort. UNMIK will continue to support psychosocial and other targeted forms of assistance to these families,” SRSG Due said, noting the theme of this year’s International Day is “Victims First. Actions Now”.

He urged full implementation of the EU Declaration on Missing Persons, continued engagement through the ICRC-led Working Group on Missing Persons, and joint efforts between Belgrade and Pristina to locate and identify the missing.

This year's commemoration also marks the 20th anniversary of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances https://shorturl.at/ZLfrH, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 December 2006.

UNMIK will continue to support the families of missing persons in seeking the realization of their right to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, in accordance with international human rights standards.

Translation Albanian Language: https://shorturl.at/rffUX

Translation Serbian Language: https://shorturl.at/EjeH2

In Retrospect:
Pristina, 20 December 1999. A passerby walks beside a damaged building during a period of recovery and rebuilding.
Photo: UNMIK

UNMIK is proud to have partnered with UNDP Kosovo on this important initiative to help process cases within Kosovo's court system and assist with archiving - contributing to a more efficient judicial administration.