The Declaration of Missing Persons, adopted within the framework of the Brussels Dialogue, represents a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issue of missing persons in the post-conflict societies of Kosovo and Serbia. However, the implementation of this declaration holds several challenges that must be justly addressed to ensure the overall success of the legal implementation of the document. This policy paper examines the key challenges that hinder the performance of the Declaration of Missing Persons and provides recommendations to overcome these obstacles, by presenting diverse narratives from each party included in the Brussels Dialogue process and those highly familiar with it.
The paper begins by providing an overview of the Brussels Dialogue and the importance of the Declaration of Missing Persons in facilitating the process of accounting for missing persons in Kosovan and Serbian areas of the 98-99’ conflict. It highlights the fundamental principles enshrined in the declaration, including the main principles of transitional justice, which serve as the guiding framework for its implementation.
