With deep sorrow, we share the news of the passing of Mr. Bajram Qerkini.

Bajram Qerkini was the Executive Director of the Missing Persons Resource Center and a long-term partner and colleague of Pro Peace in Kosovo. His passing leaves an immense void in the ongoing efforts for truth-finding and reconciliation in Kosovo.

Through his tireless work, Mr. Qerkini became a symbol of resilience, an unwavering advocate, and a guiding voice for the rights of all families of missing persons, regardless of their background. In 2002, he founded the Association “Parents’ Voice” in Mitrovica. From 2014 to 2018, he led the Kosovo Coordination Council of Family Associations. In 2018, he deepened his commitment by establishing and coordinating the Missing Persons Resource Center.

Since the end of the war in Kosovo, he fought with unwavering determination for the right to know the fate of family members and relatives who went missing during the 1998–1999 conflict. He persistently demanded justice and recognition for the grief and trauma endured by families still searching for their loved ones. His relentless advocacy reminded us that the pain of the missing is not just a matter of the past – it is a daily reality for those left behind.

His passing is a painful reminder that, even 25 years after the conflict, many families – parents, sisters, brothers, and other relatives – continue to age and pass away without ever finding the remains of their loved ones. This tragic reality underscores the urgent need for renewed efforts to address the fate of the missing, ensure accountability, and recognize the importance of organizations like the Missing Persons Resource Center in Kosovo in Dealing with the Past and Reconciliation.