Ended The International Conference on Missing Persons

International Conference and Workshop on Missing Persons, which began  on March 24, 2010, ended today.

In this conference was discussed for the international awareness of the academic staff on the issue of missing persons in Kosovo, for the opportunity to train doctors from Kosovo in several countries in different branches of Forensic Medicine, as well as through presentations during the Workshop and Conference were are offered some identification methods.

In this conference it was decided that Kosovo to join the Mediterranean Academy of Forensic Sciences, as a new member of it. Unanimously, Dr. Naim Uka, forensic expert, was appointed a member of the Board's MAFS, as representatives from Kosovo.

On the last day of the International Conference and Workshop on Missing Persons were raised following recommendations:

1. The issue of missing persons should be treated only within the scientific and humanitarian without any political influence;
2. Expert working groups for missing persons should be transparent and maintain permanent contacts with families through honest information;
3. All information obtained during investigations into missing persons should be taken only for identification purposes and kept safe storage based on rules of confidentiality;
4. All information provided during the process on missing persons must be transmitted only to associations of families of missing persons;
5. Families of missing persons must be informed accurately and correctly on the importance of providing samples (blood and salivary), partly to remove the unidentified bodies of their loved ones; 
6. Groups of experts in forensic anthropology and DNA must involve more people in order to work more efficiently and within the time specified;
7. DNA profiles obtained from unknown samples must be included in the software (database) dedicated to these cases, so that comparison could be made faster and compatibility profiles; 
8. Groups of Experts should work based on formal scientific procedures in the selection of information, management of mass graves, exhumation , identification processes, etc.; 
9. Local experts in the field of forensic medicine should be included directly in this issue 
10. International professional organizations should formally and practically help in resolving the issue of missing persons, and 
11. The process of education and specialization of new forensic staff should be assisted by academic structures involved in Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences.

On the last day of this conference a group of forensic experts, who come from different countries of the world hosted in a meeting the Minister of  Justice Nekibe Kelmendi.

International Conference on Missing Persons was organized by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kosovo, under the patronage of the Office of the President and sponsored  by the Government of Kosovo.