There is a forensic anthropology team of investigator dedicated to the identification of human remain in the context of massive murderess, kidnapping and torture of persons of different ages – because political issues- in Argentina between the 70’s and 80’s at the hands of military men under the command of the ex-dicator Jorge Rafael Videla.
The Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF) works with DNA information extracted from the bones, a little less difficult cause today advanced technology, and the DNA database of the family members of the disappeared person. Also, they work with New York’s investigators, human rights activist or groups –like Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo and HIJOS- and judicial authorities. The Argentine team helps in foreign countries too, like South Africa, El Salvador and Colombia to convict the responsible for crimes against human rights, disappearances and others forms of state terrorism, with the help of the forensic science knowledge they can gain information to bring them to court and make them pay for their crimes, like in Videla’s case, who was released in 1990, but with their support the case was reopen and bring again to court.
Maybe some people will remain forever unidentified or never found, like people who was thrown to the ocean, but the job of the EAAF is remarkable, because they can help to bring justice and peace to the suffering families.
Summary of "Forensic science for human rights’s" by Joseph Huff-Hannon, from the Guardian, UK.
I loved your article!! what an interesting job to help these families doing Forensic Anthropology.. I image that you would like to do something like that :D
ReplyDeleteGood post! Physical Anthropology has a social side too and is good that you have shown it because some people don't know about this.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really interesting and polemic research but it's what we have to do. I mean, it's necessary do this type of investigation to know the truth and get justice.
ReplyDeleteI really think the forensic science is very interesting, and I like very much this part of the anthropology, but I have a limit of tolerance with the human remains. But I think is very relevant a difficult job.
ReplyDeleteis very nice that anthropologist investigate about that topic... many times anthropologist doesn't talk or investigate about that.. really nice.
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