From 14 to 25 October 2024, a group of specialists from the Ecole des Sciences Criminelles of the University of Lausanne will travel to Serbia and Kosovo to examine the use of new technologies in the search for missing persons from the period immediately before, during and after the Kosovo conflict. The specialists' visit is part of a mandate from the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division and is Switzerland's contribution to the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, which was adopted by Serbia and Kosovo on 2 May 2023.
A drone with LiDAR technology hovers over a field to capture environmental data for 3D mapping. © FDFA
After the end of the Kosovo conflict, around 4,500 people were reported missing. To this day, there is no trace of more than 1,600 people. Uncertainty about the fate of missing persons is a great burden for relatives to bear. The question remains a long-term consequence of war, as relatives who have no absolute certainty are unable to mourn. It is therefore important for them to find out what happened to their loved ones.
Uncertainty about the fate of missing persons can also have devastating and long-lasting consequences for communities. They are prevented from coming to terms with the past. This can lead to the division of entire societies.
Switzerland is committed to dealing with the consequences of the war in Serbia and Kosovo and supports both countries in implementing the Declaration on Missing Persons. The declaration was adopted in Brussels on 2 May 2023 by the president of Serbia, Aleksander Vučić, and the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti. It provides for the promotion of close cooperation, in particular full access to reliable and accurate information and cooperation in the identification and investigation of graves. The aim is to locate, recover and identify the remains of people who disappeared between 1998 and 2000, before, during and immediately after the conflict.
The joint statement on missing persons is part of the Ohrid Agreement of 2023, which provides for the sustainable normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Since 2011, the two countries have been engaged in a dialogue moderated by the EU and supported by Switzerland. Normalisation of their relations will contribute to regional economic cooperation and the stabilisation of the region.
The planned cooperation includes the use of satellite data and advanced technologies such as LiDAR (laser scanning method using light detection and ranging). LiDAR optical remote sensing technology is used to create high-resolution maps with applications in fields such as surveying, archaeology, geography, geology, seismology, meteorology and forestry. With the help of airborne laser scanning by drones, it is now also to be used in the search for missing persons. This LiDAR test deployment in Serbia and Kosovo originated in one of the 'Dealing with the Past Dialogues', which the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) organised with Swisspeace.
Every year, the PHRD organises the eight-day Dealing with the Past Dialogues (DwP Dialogues) in Switzerland together with Swisspeace. The DwP Dialogues give decision-makers and specialists in the field the opportunity to focus on the design and implementation of comprehensive approaches to dealing with the past. Reflecting on the political dimension of dealing with the past and embedding it in peace efforts is an important part of the DwP dialogues, as is imparting in-depth knowledge about the concepts and mechanisms of dealing with the past.
Laser scanning involves sending laser pulses into the environment. If such a laser beam hits an object, it is reflected back to the sensor. The time required for the laser beam to travel from the source to the object and back again is measured by LiDAR. This allows precise measurements to be carried out on a previously defined area in the shortest possible time. The success of such measurements depends on weather conditions, but also changes to the terrain since the event – caused for example by construction work – can affect the results.
The applicability of LiDAR technology in the search for missing persons is still in the validation phase. To this end, the expertise of the Ecole des Sciences Criminelles (ESC) of the University of Lausanne has been enlisted. The ESC is a leader in the development and application of this technology. As a first step, the areas of application, expectations and needs of the mission were analysed and documented during a visit to the ESC by the Serbian and Kosovan government commissions on missing persons. This exchange formed the basis for the visit of the ESC specialists to Serbia and Kosovo between 14 and 25 October 2024.
In addition to the LiDAR remote sensing technology, the geophysical exploration method of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) will also be used during the mission. This allows the subsurface to be characterised using high-frequency electromagnetic waves, for example in order to carry out ground surveys in poor weather conditions that restrict the use of LiDAR. The data collected is processed directly on site, while the measures implemented are summarised in a report and the results are analysed. Another aim of the mission is to assess the general potential of this technology for the search for missing persons. Lastly, the mission also provides an opportunity to exchange views on technical issues relating to LiDAR deployment and to promote dialogue at a technical level between the Serbian and Kosovan commissions.
The search for missing persons and their identification is an important part of Switzerland's international cooperation activities. As a key component of humanitarian diplomacy and peacebuilding, the search for missing persons and their identification is a priority area for the PHRD. It is part of dealing with the past and a humanitarian contribution to conflict resolution. The search for missing persons can help to restore trust in society and overcome divisions. By dealing with the past together, communication channels are opened that can be used for future dialogues.
Switzerland supports the implementation of initiatives on dealing with the past on request by advising and supporting states and backing political processes. Training specialists and developing new ideas and concepts are therefore an integral part of Switzerland's work relating to the search for missing persons.
Switzerland has been active in the Western Balkans since the mid-1990s. The Swiss cooperation programme for Kosovo for 2022–25 is the current key focus area for the PHRD. The PHRD is committed to the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. In this regard, it works with the Council for Inclusive Governance, a body which brings together high-ranking Serbian and Kosovar representatives of political parties in confidential surroundings to exchange ideas for an effective normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. In addition to this 'Solothurn process', the PHRD is committed to protecting the rights of communities and improving relations between them, for example by supporting state institutions in improving the quality of official translations into the national languages. The last priority area is the promotion of dealing with the past in an inclusive manner.
