The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has taken a major step in the reconstruction of Kosovo with the launch of a process to register all civilians in Kosovo over the age of 16. The civil registration is essential for the provision of public services to all residents and in building an accurate voters' register in readiness for municipal elections to be held later this year.

The civil registration process, being run by UNMIK and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, is expected to last three months and will be conducted from some 400 sites throughout Kosovo. Mobile registration units will serve isolated communities. The pictures below show the registration process in Mirash, a remote village in south-east Kosovo, where registration started on 19 April.