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Investigation and Identification of the Missing following Armed Conflict and Disasters: Increasing Preparedness in the Asia-Pacific Region
A joint Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) / International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) / Australian Federal Police (AFP) initiative
Background
In 2003, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) held an international conference of governmental and non-governmental experts with the aim of examining the ways of better assisting the families of those missing as a result of armed conflict or internal violence. Forensic science was seen as a key element in dealing with “The Missing”.
While forensic science is an integral part of the disaster victim identification (DVI) process as advocated by INTERPOL, experience with the identification process following recent disasters in the Asia-Pacific region has demonstrated that standards of identification of deceased individuals are not uniform across the region. Furthermore, approaches to dealing with large scale disasters are varied, with little learning apparently being gained from previous experience.
In 2004, a session on forensic aspects of the Missing in post-conflict and post-disaster scenarios was held in the Philippines at the 8th meeting of the Indo-Pacific Association of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INPALMS) meeting. This was followed up by a full day session with a total of 14 countries represented at the INPALMS meeting in Sri Lanka in 2007. The outcomes of these meetings highlighted a number of issues related to investigation and identification that still need addressing.
Aims
- To bring together forensic practitioners from the Asia-Pacific region to improve regional communication, coordination and cooperation for investigations and identification of the Missing in armed conflicts and disasters;
- To provide a practical session on DVI training.
Date: 3rd - 5th October, 2008
Venue: VIFM, Southbank, Victoria.
Participants
1-3 representatives of relevant Medico-Legal Institutions (and/or police) from across the Asia-Pacific region including:
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Sri Lanka
- Philippines
- Fiji
- East Timor
- PNG
- Nepal
- Solomon Islands
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Afghanistan
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Vanuatu
- Singapore
- New Zealand
- Kuwait
Language
The workshop will be delivered in English.
Opportunities
The workshop will be held to coincide with the ANZFSS 2008 (6th-8th October 2008). Participants will also have the opportunity to attend the regional meeting of International Association of Forensic Toxicologists.
Program
| Day 1 |
| 08:00-09:00 |
Registration |
| 09:00-09:30 |
Welcome and introduction (aims, expectations etc) |
| 09:30-09:45 |
10 minutes for each Head to present a summary of the state of affairs in their country: current DVI arrangements, funding, government support, available resources etc |
| 09:45-09:55 |
Country 2 |
| 09:55-10:05 |
Country 3 |
| 10:05-10:15 |
Country 4 |
| 10:15-10:25 |
Country 5 |
| 10:30-11:00 |
Morning Tea |
| 11:00-11.10 |
Country 6 |
| 11.10-11:20 |
Country 7 |
| 11:20-11.30 |
Country 8 |
| 11:30-11:40 |
Country 9 |
| 11:40-11:50 |
Country 10 |
| 11:50-12:00 |
Country 11 |
| 12:00-12:10 |
Country 12 |
| 12:10-12:20 |
Country 13 |
| 12:20-12:30 |
Country 14 |
| 12:30-12:40 |
Coutnry15 |
| 12:40-13:40 |
Lunch / Pray |
| 13:40-14:40 |
Approaches to investigation and identification: disasters vs. human rights violations |
| 14:40-17:30 |
Phase 1 Scene Investigation Management, Practical session 1 (Australian Federal Police/VicPOL) |
| 17:30 |
Close |
| Day 2 |
| 08.00-09.00 |
Phase 2: Scenario presentation and discussion for practical session 2: Mortuary Management (VIFM) |
| 09.00-12.00 |
Practical session 2: Mortuary |
| 12.00-13.00 |
Lunch / Pray |
| 13.00-15:00 |
Practical session 2…cont.; Phase 3: Collection of ante-mortem data |
| 15:00-15:30 |
Afternoon Tea |
| 15.30-16:30 |
Phase 4: Reconciliation |
| 16.30-17.30 |
Presentation to the board |
| Close |
| Dinner |
| Day 3 |
| 09.00-09:30 |
Phase 5: Debrief |
| 09:30-16.30 |
Group discussion:
Points for discussion include:
- DVI standards in the region
- Development of regional communication about DVI
- Cross-regional training
- Sensitising governments to the issues related to the Missing
- Continued reliance on DNA
- Management of human remains in large scale disasters
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Further information and registration for this meeting is available from;
Stephen Cordner
Professor of Forensic Medicine, Monash University
Director, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
57-83 Kavanagh Street
Southbank
Victoria 3006
Australia
Phone: Int + 613 9684 4301
Facsimile: Int + 613 9682 7353
Mobile: 0418 815 766
Email:
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